Kunitz domain polypeptide and materials and methods for making it

ABSTRACT

Proteinase inhibitors comprising a Kunitz domain are disclosed. The Kunitz domain comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO:5, wherein the sequence is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:2. Also disclosed are methods for making the proteinase inhibitors, and expression vectors and cultured cells that are useful within the methods. The proteinase inhibitors may be used as components of cell culture media, in protein purification, and in certain therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

This Appln. claims benefit of provisional Appln. 60/087,032 May 28, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In animals, proteinases are important in wound healing, extracellular matrix destruction, tissue reorganization, and in cascades leading to blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, and complement activation. Proteinases are released by inflammatory cells for destruction of pathogens or foreign materials, and by normal and cancerous cells as they move through their surroundings.

The activity of proteinases is regulated by inhibitors; 10% of the proteins in blood serum are proteinase inhibitors (Roberts et al., Critical Reviews in Eukaryotic Gene Expression 5:385-436, 1995). One family of proteinase inhibitors, the Kunitz inhibitors, includes inhibitors of trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, kallikrein, plasmin, coagulation factors XIa and IXa, and cathepsin G. These inhibitors thus regulate a variety of physiological processes, including blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, and inflammation.

Proteinase inhibitors regulate the proteolytic activity of target proteinases by occupying the active site and thereby preventing occupation by normal substrates. Although proteinase inhibitors fall into several unrelated structural classes, they all possess an exposed loop (variously termed an "inhibitor loop", a "reactive core", a "reactive site", or a "binding loop") which is stabilized by intermolecular interactions between residues flanking the binding loop and the protein core (Bode and Huber, Eur. J. Biochem. 204:433-451, 1992). Interaction between inhibitor and enzyme produces a stable complex which disassociates very slowly, releasing either virgin (uncleaved) inhibitor, or a modified inhibitor that is cleaved at the scissile bond of the binding loop.

One class of proteinase inhibitors, the Kunitz inhibitors, are generally basic, low molecular weight proteins comprising one or more inhibitory domains ("Kunitz domains"). The Kunitz domain is a folding domain of approximately 50-60 residues which forms a central anti-parallel beta sheet and a short C-terminal helix. This characteristic domain comprises six cysteine residues that form three disulfide bonds, resulting in a double-loop structure. Between the N-terminal region and the first beta strand resides the active inhibitory binding loop. This binding loop is disulfide bonded through the P2 Cys residue to the hairpin loop formed between the last two beta strands. Isolated Kunitz domains from a variety of proteinase inhibitors have been shown to have inhibitory activity (e.g., Petersen et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 125:310-316, 1996; Wagner et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 186:1138-1145, 1992; Dennis et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:25411-25417, 1995).

Proteinase inhibitors comprising one or more Kunitz domains include tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI-2), amyloid β-protein precursor (AβPP), aprotinin, and placental bikunin. TFPI, an extrinsic pathway inhibitor and a natural anticoagulant, contains three tandemly linked Kunitz inhibitor domains. The amino-terminal Kunitz domain inhibits factor VIIa, plasmin, and cathepsin G; the second domain inhibits factor Xa, trypsin, and chymotrypsin; and the third domain has no known activity (Petersen et al., ibid.). TFPI-2 has been shown to be an inhibitor of the amidolytic and proteolytic activities of human factor VIIa-tissue factor complex, factor XIa, plasma kallikrein, and plasmin (Sprecher et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:3353-3357, 1994; Petersen et al., Biochem. 35:266-272, 1996). The ability of TFPI-2 to inhibit the factor VIIa-tissue factor complex and its relatively high levels of transcription in umbilical vein endothelial cells, placenta and liver suggests a specialized role for this protein in hemostasis (Sprecher et al., ibid.). Aprotinin (bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor) is a broad spectrum Kunitz-type serine proteinase inhibitor that has been shown to prevent activation of the clotting cascade. Aprotinin is a moderate inhibitor of plasma kallikrein and plamin, and blockage of fibrinolysis and extracorporeal coagulation have been detected in patients given aprotinin during open heart surgery (Davis and Whittington, Drugs 49:954-983, 1995; Dietrich et al., Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 37:92-98, 1989). Aprotinin has also been used in the treatment of septic shock, adult respiratory distress syndrome, acute pancreatitis, hemorrhagic shock, and other conditions (Westaby, Ann. Thorac. Surg. 55:1033-1041, 1993; Wachtfogel et al., J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 106: 1-10, 1993). The clinical utility of aprotinin is believed to arise from its inhibitory activity towards plasma kallikrein or plasmin (Dennis et al., ibid.). Placental bikunin is a serine proteinase inhibitor containing two Kunitz domains (Delaria et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272:12209-12214, 1997). Individual Kunitz domains of bikunin have been expressed and shown to be potent inhibitors of trypsin, chymotrypsin, plasmin, factor XIa, and tissue and plasma kallikrein (Delaria et al., ibid.).

Known Kunitz-type inhibitors lack specificity and may have low potency. Lack of specificity can result in undesirable side effects, such as nephrotoxicity that occurs after repeated injections of high doses of aprotinin. These limitations may be overcome by preparing isolated Kunitz domains, which may have fewer side effects than traditional anticoagulants. Hence, there is a need in the art for additional Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide novel Kunitz inhibitor proteins and compositions comprising the proteins. It is another object of the invention to provide materials and methods for making the Kunitz inhibitor proteins. It is a further object of the invention to provide antibodies that specifically bind to the Kunitz inhibitor proteins.

Within one aspect, the invention provides an isolated protein comprising a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO:5, wherein the sequence is at least 90% identical to residues 9 through 59 of SEQ ID NO:2 and wherein the protein has proteinase inhibiting activity. within one embodiment, the protein is from 51 to 81 amino acid residues in length. Within other embodiments, the protein is from 51 to 67 residues in length, preferably from 55 to 62 residues in length. Within another embodiment, the sequence is selected from the group consisting of residues 9 through 59 of SEQ ID NO:2 and residues 9 through 59 of SEQ ID NO:4. Within a further embodiment, the protein consists of from 51-557 contiguous amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO:10. Within an additional embodiment, the protein further comprises an affinity tag. Suitable affinity tags include maltose binding protein, polyhistidine, and Glu-Tyr-Met-Pro-Met-Glu (SEQ ID NO:18).

Within a second aspect, the invention provides an expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements: (a) a transcription promoter; (b) a DNA segment encoding a protein as disclosed above; and (c) a transcription terminator. Within one embodiment, the expression vector further comprises a secretory signal sequence operably linked to the DNA segment.

Within a third aspect, the invention provides a cultured cell containing an expression vector as disclosed above, wherein the cell expresses the DNA segment.

Within a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making a protein having proteinase inhibiting activity comprising culturing a cell as disclosed above under conditions whereby the DNA segment is expressed, and recovering the protein encoded by the DNA segment.

Within a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided an antibody that specifically binds to a protein as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.

These and other aspects of the invention will become evident upon reference to the following detailed description and the attached drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The FIGURE shows an amino acid sequence alignment of a representative polypeptide of the present invention (SEQ ID NO:2), designated "ZKUN5", with the sequence of the Kunitz domain of human alpha 3 type VI collagen (SEQ ID NO:8), designated "1KNT".

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Prior to setting forth the invention in detail, it may be helpful to the understanding thereof to define the following terms:

The term "affinity tag" is used herein to denote a polypeptide segment that can be attached to a second polypeptide to provide for purification of the second polypeptide or provide sites for attachment of the second polypeptide to a substrate. In principal, any peptide or protein for which an antibody or other specific binding agent is available can be used as an affinity tag. Affinity tags include a poly-histidine tract, protein A (Nilsson et al., EMBO J. 4:1075, 1985; Nilsson et al., Methods Enzymol. 198:3, 1991), glutathione S transferase (Smith and Johnson, Gene 67:31, 1988), Glu-Glu affinity tag (Grussenmeyer et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:7952-4, 1985) (SEQ ID NO:18), substance P, Flag™ peptide (Hopp et al., Biotechnology 6:1204-1210, 1988), streptavidin binding peptide, maltose binding protein (Guan et al., Gene 67:21-30, 1987), cellulose binding protein, thioredoxin, ubiquitin, T7 polymerase, or other antigenic epitope or binding domain. See, in general, Ford et al., Protein Expression and Purification 2: 95-107, 1991. DNAs encoding affinity tags and other reagents are available from commercial suppliers (e.g., Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.; New England Biolabs, Beverly, Mass.; Eastman Kodak, New Haven, Conn.).

The term "allelic variant" is used herein to denote any of two or more alternative forms of a gene occupying the same chromosomal locus. Allelic variation arises naturally through mutation, and may result in phenotypic polymorphism within populations. Gene mutations can be silent (no change in the encoded polypeptide) or may encode polypeptides having altered amino acid sequence. The term allelic variant is also used herein to denote a protein encoded by an allelic variant of a gene.

The terms "amino-terminal" and "carboxyl-terminal" are used herein to denote positions within polypeptides. Where the context allows, these terms are used with reference to a particular sequence or portion of a polypeptide to denote proximity or relative position. For example, a certain sequence positioned carboxyl-terminal to a reference sequence within a polypeptide is located proximal to the carboxyl terminus of the reference sequence, but is not necessarily at the carboxyl terminus of the complete polypeptide.

A "complement" of a polynucleotide molecule is a polynucleotide molecule having a complementary base sequence and reverse orientation as compared to a reference sequence. For example, the sequence 5' ATGCACGGG 3' is complementary to 5' CCCGTGCAT 3'.

The term "degenerate nucleotide sequence" denotes a sequence of nucleotides that includes one or more degenerate codons (as compared to a reference polynucleotide molecule that encodes a polypeptide). Degenerate codons contain different triplets of nucleotides, but encode the same amino acid residue (i.e., GAU and GAC triplets each encode Asp).

A "DNA segment" is a portion of a larger DNA molecule having specified attributes. For example, a DNA segment encoding a specified polypeptide is a portion of a longer DNA molecule, such as a plasmid or plasmid fragment, that, when read from the 5' to the 3' direction, encodes the sequence of amino acids of the specified polypeptide.

The term "expression vector" is used to denote a DNA molecule, linear or circular, that comprises a segment encoding a polypeptide of interest operably linked to additional segments that provide for its transcription. Such additional segments include promoter and terminator sequences, and may also include one or more origins of replication, one or more selectable markers, an enhancer, a polyadenylation signal, etc. Expression vectors are generally derived from plasmid or viral DNA, or may contain elements of both.

The term "isolated", when applied to a polynucleotide, denotes that the polynucleotide has been removed from its natural genetic milieu and is thus free of other extraneous or unwanted coding sequences, and is in a form suitable for use within genetically engineered protein production systems. Such isolated molecules are those that are separated from their natural environment and include cDNA and genomic clones. Isolated DNA molecules of the present invention are free of other genes with which they are ordinarily associated, but may include naturally occurring 5' and 3' untranslated regions such as promoters and terminators. The identification of associated regions will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art (see for example, Dynan and Tijan, Nature 316:774-78, 1985).

An "isolated" polypeptide or protein is a polypeptide or protein that is found in a condition other than its native environment, such as apart from blood and animal tissue. In a preferred form, the isolated polypeptide is substantially free of other polypeptides, particularly other polypeptides of animal origin. It is preferred to provide the polypeptides in a highly purified form, i.e. greater than 95% pure, more preferably greater than 99% pure. When used in this context, the term "isolated" does not exclude the presence of the same polypeptide in alternative physical forms, such as dimers or alternatively glycosylated or derivatized forms.

The term "operably linked", when referring to DNA segments, indicates that the segments are arranged so that they function in concert for their intended purposes, e.g., transcription initiates in the promoter and proceeds through the coding segment to the terminator.

The term "ortholog" denotes a polypeptide or protein obtained from one species that is the functional counterpart of a polypeptide or protein from a different species. Sequence differences among orthologs are the result of speciation.

A "polynucleotide" is a single- or double-stranded polymer of deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide bases read from the 5' to the 3' end. Polynucleotides include RNA and DNA, and may be isolated from natural sources, synthesized in vitro, or prepared from a combination of natural and synthetic molecules. Sizes of polynucleotides are expressed as base pairs (abbreviated "bp"), nucleotides ("nt"), or kilobases ("kb"). Where the context allows, the latter two terms may describe polynucleotides that are single-stranded or double-stranded. When these terms are applied to double-stranded molecules they are used to denote overall length and will be understood to be equivalent to the term "base pairs". It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the two strands of a double-stranded polynucleotide may differ slightly in length and that the ends thereof may be staggered as a result of enzymatic cleavage; thus all nucleotides within a double-stranded polynucleotide molecule may not be paired. Such unpaired ends will in general not exceed 20 nt in length.

A "polypeptide" is a polymer of amino acid residues joined by peptide bonds, whether produced naturally or synthetically. Polypeptides of less than about 10 amino acid residues are commonly referred to as "peptides".

The term "promoter" is used herein for its art-recognized meaning to denote a portion of a gene containing DNA sequences that provide for the binding of RNA polymerase and initiation of transcription. Promoter sequences are commonly, but not always, found in the 5' non-coding regions of genes.

A "protein" is a macromolecule comprising one or more polypeptide chains. A protein may also comprise non-peptidic components, such as carbohydrate groups. Carbohydrates and other non-peptidic substituents may be added to a protein by the cell in which the protein is produced, and will vary with the type of cell. Proteins are defined herein in terms of their amino acid backbone structures; substituents such as carbohydrate groups are generally not specified, but may be present nonetheless.

The term "secretory signal sequence" denotes a DNA sequence that encodes a polypeptide (a "secretory peptide") that, as a component of a larger polypeptide, directs the larger polypeptide through a secretory pathway of a cell in which it is synthesized. The larger polypeptide is commonly cleaved to remove the secretory peptide during transit through the secretory pathway.

The term "splice variant" is used herein to denote alternative forms of RNA transcribed from a gene. Splice variation arises naturally through use of alternative splicing sites within a transcribed RNA molecule, or less commonly between separately transcribed RNA molecules, and may result in several mRNAs transcribed from the same gene. Splice variants may encode polypeptides having altered amino acid sequence. The term splice variant is also used herein to denote a protein encoded by a splice variant of an mRNA transcribed from a gene.

Molecular weights and lengths of polymers determined by imprecise analytical methods (e.g., gel electrophoresis) will be understood to be approximate values. When such a value is expressed as "about" X or "approximately" X, the stated value of X will be understood to be accurate to ±10%.

All references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The present invention provides, in part, novel serine proteinases comprising a Kunitz domain. This Kunitz domain, including sequence variants thereof and proteins containing it, is referred to herein as "zkun5". The zkun5 polypeptide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2 comprises this Kunitz domain, which is bounded at the amino and carboxyl termini by cysteine residues at positions 9 and 59, respectively.

Zkun5 has 50% residue identity with the kunitz domain in human alpha 3 type VI collagen (shown in SEQ ID NO:8). The structure of the latter domain has been solved by X-ray crystallography and by NMR (Arnoux et al., J. Mol. Biol. 246:609-617, 1995; Sorensen et al., Biochemistry 36:10439-10450, 1997). An alignment of zkun5 and the collagen Kunitz domain (see FIGURE) can be combined with a homology model of zkun5 based on the X-ray structure to predict the function of certain residues in zkun5. Referring to SEQ ID NO:2, disulfide bonds are predicted to be formed by paired cysteine residues Cys9 - Cys59; Cys18 - Cys42; and Cys34 - Cys55. The protease binding loop (P3-P4') is expected to comprise residues 17-23 of SEQ ID NO:2 (Asn-Cys-Gly-Glu-Tyr-Val-Val), with the P1 residue being Gly19, and the P1' residue being Glu20. Zkun5 further comprises a potential glycosylation site at position Asn43 of SEQ ID NO:2.

The kunitz domain of human alpha 3 type VI collagen is not known to have antiproteinase activity. Suspected reasons for this include unfavorable steric hindrances with trypsin involving the residue Asp15 of collagen (corresponding to Glu20 in zkun5). From these data it is predicted that a Glu20Ala mutant of zkun5 may show increased antiproteinase activity. The present invention thus contemplates zkun5 proteins wherein residue 20 of SEQ ID NO:2 is replaced with Ala as shown in SEQ ID NO:4.

Additional amino acid substitions can be made within the zkun5 sequence so long as the conserved cysteine residues are retained and the higher order structure is not disrupted. It is preferred to make substitutions within the zkun5 Kunitz domain by reference to the sequences of other Kunitz domains. SEQ ID NO:5 is a generalized Kunitz domain sequence that shows allowable amino acid substitutions based on such an alignment. The 51-residue sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:5 conforms to the pattern:

    C-X(8)-C-X(15)-C-X(7)-C-X(12)-C-X(3)-C

wherein C denotes cysteine; X is any naturally occuring amino acid residue, subject to the limitations set forth in the attached Sequence Listing for SEQ ID NO:5; and the numerals indicate the number of such variable residues. The second cysteine residue is in the P2 position.

Within the present invention up to 100 of the amino acid residues in the zkun5 Kunitz domain (residues 9 through 59 of SEQ ID NO:2) can be replaced with other amino acid residues, subject to the limitation that the resulting substituted sequence is one of the sequences disclosed in SEQ ID NO:5. The present invention thus provides a family of proteins comprising a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO:5, wherein the sequence is at least 90% identical to residues 9 through 59 of SEQ ID NO:2. It is preferred that the proteins of the present invention comprise such a sequence that is at least 95% identical to residues 9 through 59 of SEQ ID NO:2.

Percent sequence identity is determined by conventional methods. See, for example, Altschul et al., Bull . Math. Bio. 48:603-616, 1986, and Henikoff and Henikoff, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915-10919, 1992. Briefly, two amino acid sequences are aligned to optimize the alignment scores using a gap opening penalty of 10, a gap extension penalty of 1, and the "BLOSUM62" scoring matrix of Henikoff and Henikoff (ibid.) as shown in Table 2 (amino acids are indicated by the standard one-letter codes). The percent identity is then calculated as: ##EQU1##

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________           R N  D  C  Q  E  G   H I   L K  M  F  P  S  T  W                         __________________________________________________________________________                                                                  Y  V                4      A                                                                     R -1   5                                                                       N -2   0                                                                               6                                                                      D -2 -2  1 6                                                                   C  0 -3 -3 -3  9                                                               Q -1  1 0  0  -3  5                                                            E -1  0 0  2  -4  2  5                                                         G  0 -2  0 -1 -3 -2 -2 6                                                       H -2   0                                                                               1  -1 -3  0  0 -2  8                                                   I -1 -3 -3 -3 -1 -3 -3 -4 -3   4                                               L -1 -2 -3 -4 -1 -2 -3 -4 -3   2                                                                               4                                              K -1   2                                                                               0  -1 -3  1  1 -2 -1 -3 -2  5                                          M -1 -1 -2 -3 -1  0 -2 -3 -2   1                                                                               2  -1  5                                       F -2 -3 -3 -3 -2 -3 -3 -3 -1   0                                                                               0  -3  0 6                                     P -1 -2 -2 -1 -3 -1 -1 -2 -2 -3 -3 -1 -2 -4  7                                 S  1 -1  1 0  -1  0  0 0  -1 -2 -2  0 -1 -2 -1  4                              T  0 -1  0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -2 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1 -2 -1  1  5                           W -3 -3 -4 -4 -2 -2 -3 -2 -2 -3 -2 -3 -1  1 -4 -3 -2 11                        Y -2 -2 -2 -3 -2 -1 -2 -3  2 -1 -1 -2 -1  3 -3 -2 -2  2        7               V  0 -3 -3 -3 -1 -2 -2 -3 -3   3                                                                               1  -2  1 -1 -2 -2  0 -3       -                                                                      4                        __________________________________________________________________________

The level of identity between amino acid sequences can be determined using the "FASTA" similarity search algorithm of Pearson and Lipman (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444, 1988) and Pearson (Meth. Enzymol. 183:63, 1990). Briefly, FASTA first characterizes sequence similarity by identifying regions shared by the query sequence (e.g., SEQ ID NO:2) and a test sequence that have either the highest density of identities (if the ktup variable is 1) or pairs of identities (if ktup=2), without considering conservative amino acid substitutions, insertions, or deletions. The ten regions with the highest density of identities are then rescored by comparing the similarity of all paired amino acids using an amino acid substitution matrix, and the ends of the regions are "trimmed" to include only those residues that contribute to the highest score. If there are several regions with scores greater than the "cutoff" value (calculated by a predetermined formula based upon the length of the sequence and the ktup value), then the trimmed initial regions are examined to determine whether the regions can be joined to form an approximate alignment with gaps. Finally, the highest scoring regions of the two amino acid sequences are aligned using a modification of the Needleman-Wunsch-Sellers algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol. 48:444, 1970; Sellers, SIAM J. Appl. Math. 26:787, 1974), which allows for amino acid insertions and deletions. Illustrative parameters for FASTA analysis are: ktup=1, gap opening penalty=10, gap extension penalty=1, and substitution matrix=1BLOSUM62. These parameters can be introduced into a FASTA program by modifying the scoring matrix file ("SMATRIX"), as explained in Appendix 2 of Pearson, 1990 (ibid.).

FASTA can also be used to determine the sequence identity of nucleic acid molecules using a ratio as disclosed above. For nucleotide sequence comparisons, the ktup value can range between one to six, preferably from four to six.

The proteins of the present invention can also comprise non-naturally occurring amino acid residues. Non-naturally occurring amino acids include, without limitation, trans-3-methylproline, 2,4-methanoproline, cis-4-hydroxyproline, trans-4-hydroxyproline, N-methylglycine, allo-threonine, methylthreonine, hydroxyethylcysteine, hydroxyethylhomocysteine, nitroglutamine, homoglutamine, pipecolic acid, thiazolidine carboxylic acid, dehydroproline, 3- and 4-methylproline, 3,3-dimethylproline, tert-leucine, norvaline, 2-azaphenylalanine, 3-azaphenylalanine, 4-azaphenylalanine, and 4-fluorophenylalanine. Several methods are known in the art for incorporating non-naturally occurring amino acid residues into proteins. For example, an in vitro system can be employed wherein nonsense mutations are suppressed using chemically aminoacylated suppressor tRNAs. Methods for synthesizing amino acids and aminoacylating tRNA are known in the art. Transcription and translation of plasmids containing nonsense mutations is carried out in a cell-free system comprising an E. coli S30 extract and commercially available enzymes and other reagents. Proteins are purified by chromatography. See, for example, Robertson et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 113:2722, 1991; Ellman et al., Methods Enzymol. 202:301, 1991; Chung et al., Science 259:806-9, 1993; and Chung et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:10145-9, 1993). In a second method, translation is carried out in Xenopus oocytes by microinjection of mutated mRNA and chemically aminoacylated suppressor tRNAs (Turcatti et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271:19991-8, 1996). Within a third method, E. coli cells are cultured in the absence of a natural amino acid that is to be replaced (e.g., phenylalanine) and in the presence of the desired non-naturally occurring amino acid(s) (e.g., 2-azaphenylalanine, 3-azaphenylalanine, 4-azaphenylalanine, or 4-fluorophenylalanine). The non-naturally occurring amino acid is incorporated into the protein in place of its natural counterpart. See, Koide et al., Biochem. 33:7470-6, 1994. Naturally occurring amino acid residues can be converted to non-naturally occurring species by in vitro chemical modification. Chemical modification can be combined with site-directed mutagenesis to further expand the range of substitutions (Wynn and Richards, Protein Sci. 2:395-403, 1993).

Additional polypeptides may be joined to the amino and/or carboxyl termini of the zkun5 Kunitz domain (residues 9-59 of SEQ ID NO:2) or a derivative of the zkun5 Kunitz domain as disclosed above. Within one embodiment, the extensions are those shown in SEQ ID NO:10, wherein the zkun5 Kunitz domain is located at residues 504-554. Particularly preferred proteins in this regard include residues 1-62 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4. Amino and carboxyl extensions of the zkun5 Kunitz domain will be selected so as not to destroy or mask the proteinase-inhibiting activity of the protein by, for example, burying the Kunitz domain within the interior of the protein. There is a consequent preference for shorter extensions, typically 10-15 residues in length, preferably not exceeding 8 residues in length. There is considerable latitude in the permissible sequence of these extensions, although it is preferred to avoid the addition of cysteine residues in close proximity to the the Kunitz domain itself. For example, a zkun5 protein can comprise residues 9-59 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 with amino- and carboxyl-terminal dipeptides, wherein the individual amino acid residues of the dipeptides are any amino acid residue except cysteine.

Other amino- and carboxyl-terminal extensions that can be included in the proteins of the present invention include, for example, an amino-terminal methionine residue, a small linker peptide of up to about 20-25 residues, or an affinity tag as disclosed above. A protein comprising such an extension may further comprise a polypeptide linker and/or a proteolytic cleavage site between the zkun5 portion and the affinity tag. Preferred cleavage sites include thrombin cleavage sites and factor Xa cleavage sites. For example, the zkun5 protein shown in SEQ ID NO:2 may be expressed as a fusion comprising, from amino terminus to carboxyl terminus: maltose binding protein-polyhistidine-thrombin cleavage site (Leu-Val-Pro-Arg; SEQ ID NO:11)-SEQ ID NO:2. Linker peptides and affinity tags provide for additional functions, such as binding to substrates, antibodies, binding proteins, and the like, and facilitate purification, detection, and delivery of zkun5 proteins. In another example, a zkun5 Kunitz domain can be expressed as a secreted protein comprising a carboxyl-terminal receptor transmembrane domain, permitting the Kunitz domain to be displayed on the surface of a cell. To span the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane, a minimum of about 20 amino acids are required in the transmembrane domain; these should predominantly be hydrophobic amino acids. The Kunitz domain can be separated from the transmembrane domain by a spacer polypeptide, and can be contained within an extended polypeptide comprising a carboxyl-terminal transmembrane domain--spacer polypeptide--Kunitz domain--amino-terminal polypeptide. Many receptor transmembrane domains and polynucleotides encoding them are known in the art. The spacer polypeptide will generally be at least about 50 amino acid residues in length, up to 200-300 or more residues. The amino terminal polypeptide may be up to 300 or more residues in length.

The present invention further provides polynucleotide molecules, including DNA and RNA molecules, encoding zkun5 proteins. The polynucleotides of the present invention include the sense strand; the anti-sense strand; and the DNA as double-stranded, having both the sense and anti-sense strand annealed together by their respective hydrogen bonds. Representative DNA sequences encoding zkun5 proteins are set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, and SEQ ID NO:9. DNA sequences encoding other zkun5 proteins can be readily generated by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the genetic code. Counterpart RNA sequences can be generated by substitution of U for T.

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that, in view of the degeneracy of the genetic code, considerable sequence variation is possible among these polynucleotide molecules. SEQ ID NO:6 is a degenerate DNA sequence that encompasses all DNAs that encode the zkun5 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2. SEQ ID NO:7 is a degenerate DNA sequence that encompasses all DNAs that encode the zkun5 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the degenerate sequences of SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:7 also provide all RNA sequences encoding SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:4, respectively, by substituting U for T. Thus, zkun5 polypeptide-encoding polynucleotides comprising nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 186 of SEQ ID NO:6, nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 186 of SEQ ID NO:7, and their respective RNA equivalents are contemplated by the present invention. Table 2 sets forth the one-letter codes used within SEQ ID NOS:6 and 7 to denote degenerate nucleotide positions. "Resolutions" are the nucleotides denoted by a code letter. "Complement" indicates the code for the complementary nucleotide(s). For example, the code Y denotes either C or T, and its complement R denotes A or G, A being complementary to T, and G being complementary to C.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                               Nucleotide                                                                        Resolution   Nucleotide                                                                              Complement                                      ______________________________________                                         A        A            T        T                                               C                                           G                                  G                                           C                                  T                                           A                                  R                     A|G                                                                                        C|T                        Y                     C|T                                                                                        A|G                        M                     A|C                                                                                        G|T                        K                     G|T                                                                                        A|C                        S                     C|G                                                                                        C|G                        W                     A|T                                                                                        A|T                        H                    A|C|T                                                                             A|G|T              B                    C|G|T                                                                             A|C|G              V                    A|C|G                                                                             C|G|T              D                    A|G|T                                                                             A|C|T              N                   A|C|G|T                                                      N           A|C|G|                                    T                                               ______________________________________                                    

The degenerate codons used in SEQ ID NOS:6 and 7, encompassing all possible codons for a given amino acid, are set forth in Table 3.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                                One                                                                     Amino     Letter                                                                                                               Degenerate                     Acid        Code                                                                                             Codons                                           ______________________________________                                                                            Codon                                       Cys    C        TGC TGT            TGY                                         Ser          S     AGC AGT TCA TCC TCG TCT                                                                                     WSN                            Thr          T     ACA ACC ACG ACT                      ACN                    Pro          P     CCA CCC CCG CCT                      CCN                    Ala          A     GCA GCC GCG GCT                      GCN                    Gly          G     GGA GGC GGG GGT                      GGN                    Asn          N     AAC AAT                                      AAY            Asp          D     GAC GAT                                      GAY            Glu          E     GAA GAG                                       GAR           Gln          Q     CAA CAG                                       CAR           His          H     CAC CAT                                      CAY            Arg          R     AGA AGG CGA CGC CGG CGT                                                                                     MGN                            Lys          K     AAA AAG                                        AAR          Met          M     ATG                                              ATG        Ile          I     ATA ATC ATT                              ATH                Leu          L     CTA CTC CTG CTT TTA TTG                                                                                        YTN                         Val          V     GTA GTC GTG GTT                      GTN                    Phe          F     TTC TTT                                      TTY            Tyr          Y     TAC TAT                                      TAY            Trp          W     TGG                                              TGG        Ter           .   TAA TAG TGA                                TRR               Asn|Asp                                                                          B                                                                                                      RAY                                         Glu|Gln                                                                          Z                                                                                                      SAR                                         Any          X                                                                 ______________________________________                                                                            NNN                                    

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that some ambiguity is introduced in determining a degenerate codon, representative of all possible codons encoding each amino acid. For example, the degenerate codon for serine (WSN) can, in some circumstances, encode arginine (AGR) , and the degenerate codon for arginine (MGN) can, in some circumstances, encode serine (AGY) . A similar relationship exists between codons encoding phenylalanine and leucine. Thus, some polynucleotides encompassed by the degenerate sequence may encode variant amino acid sequences, but one of ordinary skill in the art can easily identify such variant sequences by reference to the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOS:2 and 4. Variant sequences can be readily tested for functionality as described herein.

One of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that different species can exhibit preferential codon usage, that is, a bias in codon usage within the genome of a species. See, in general, Grantham et al., Nuc. Acids Res. 8:1893-912, 1980; Haas et al. Curr. Biol. 6:315-24, 1996; Wain-Hobson et al., Gene 13:355-64, 1981; Grosjean and Fiers, Gene 18:199-209, 1982; Holm, Nuc. Acids Res. 14:3075-87, 1986; and Ikemura, J. Mol. Biol. 158:573-97, 1982. Preferred codons for a particular species can be introduced into the polynucleotides of the present invention by a variety of methods known in the art, thereby increasing translation efficiency within a particular cell type or species. The degenerate codon sequences disclosed in SEQ ID NOS:6 and 7 serve as templates for optimizing expression of polynucleotides in various cell types and species commonly used in the art and disclosed herein. Sequences containing preferred codons can be tested and optimized for expression in various host cell species, and tested for functionality as disclosed herein.

It is preferred that zkun5 polynucleotides hybridize to similar sized regions of SEQ ID NO:1, or a sequence complementary thereto, under stringent conditions. In general, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5° C. lower than the thermal melting point (T_(m)) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH. The T_(m) is the temperature (under defined ionic strength and pH) at which 50% of the target sequence hybridizes to a perfectly matched probe. Typical stringent conditions are those in which the salt concentration is up to about 0.03 M at pH 7 and the temperature is at least about 60° C.

As previously noted, zkun5 polynucleotides provided by the present invention include DNA and RNA. Methods for preparing DNA and RNA are well known in the art. In general, RNA is isolated from a tissue or cell that produces large amounts of zkun5 RNA. Such tissues and cells are identified by Northern blotting (Thomas, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:5201, 1980), and include spinal cord, trachea, heart, colon, small intestine, and stomach. Total RNA can be prepared using guanidine-HCl extraction followed by isolation by centrifugation in a CsCl gradient (Chirgwin et al., Biochemistry 18:52-94, 1979). Poly (A)⁺ RNA is prepared from total RNA using the method of Aviv and Leder (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 69:1408-12, 1972). Complementary DNA (cDNA) is prepared from poly(A)⁺ RNA using known methods. In the alternative, genomic DNA can be isolated. Polynucleotides encoding zkun5 polypeptides are then identified and isolated by, for example, hybridization or PCR.

A full-length clone encoding zkun5 can be obtained by conventional cloning procedures. Complementary DNA (cDNA) clones are preferred, although for some applications (e.g., expression in transgenic animals) it may be preferable to use a genomic clone, or to modify a cDNA clone to include at least one genomic intron. Methods for preparing cDNA and genomic clones are well known and within the level of ordinary skill in the art, and include the use of the sequence disclosed herein, or parts thereof, for probing or priming a library. Expression libraries can be probed with antibodies to zkun5, receptor fragments, or other specific binding partners.

The polynucleotides of the present invention can also be synthesized using automated equipment ("gene machines"). Gene synthesis methods are well known in the art. See, for example, Glick and Pasternak, Molecular Biotechnology, Principles & Applications of Recombinant DNA, ASM Press, Washington, D.C., 1994; Itakura et al., Annu. Rev. Biochem. 53: 323-356, 1984; and Climie et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:633-637, 1990.

The zkun5 polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein can be used to isolate counterpart polynucleotides from other species (orthologs). These orthologous polynucleotides can be used, inter alia, to prepare the respective orthologous proteins. These other species include, but are not limited to mammalian, avian, amphibian, reptile, fish, insect and other vertebrate and invertebrate species. Of particular interest are zkun5 polynucleotides abd polypeptides from other mammalian species, including murine, porcine, ovine, bovine, canine, feline, equine, and other primate polypeptides. Orthologs of human zkun5 can be cloned using information and compositions provided by the present invention in combination with conventional cloning techniques. For example, a cDNA can be cloned using mRNA obtained from a tissue or cell type that expresses zkun5 as disclosed herein. Suitable sources of mRNA can be identified by probing Northern blots with probes designed from the sequences disclosed herein. A library is then prepared from mRNA of a positive tissue or cell line. A zkun5-encoding cDNA can then be isolated by a variety of methods, such as by probing with a complete or partial human cDNA or with one or more sets of degenerate probes based on the disclosed sequences. A cDNA can also be cloned using the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR (Mullis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202), using primers designed from the representative human zkun5 sequence disclosed herein. Within an additional method, the cDNA library can be used to transform or transfect host cells, and expression of the cDNA of interest can be detected with an antibody to zkun5 polypeptide. Similar techniques can also be applied to the isolation of genomic clones.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the sequence disclosed in SEQ ID NO:1 represents a single allele of human zkun5 and that natural variation, including allelic variation and alternative splicing, is expected to occur. Allelic variants of this sequence can be cloned by probing cDNA or genomic libraries from different individuals according to standard procedures. Allelic variants of the DNA sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1, including those containing silent mutations and those in which mutations result in amino acid sequence changes, are within the scope of the present invention, as are proteins which are allelic variants of SEQ ID NO:2. cDNAs generated from alternatively spliced mRNAs, which retain the proteinase inhibiting activity of zkun5 are included within the scope of the present invention, as are polypeptides encoded by such cDNAs and mRNAs. Allelic variants and splice variants of these sequences can be cloned by probing cDNA or genomic libraries from different individuals or tissues according to standard procedures known in the art.

Zkun5 proteins, including variants of wild-type zkun5, are tested for activity in protease inhibition assays, a variety of which are known in the art. Preferred assays include those measuring inhibition of trypsin, chymotrypsin, plasmin, cathepsin G, and human leukocyte elastase. See, for example, Petersen et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 235:310-316, 1996. In a typical procedure, the inhibitory activity of a test compound is measured by incubating the test compound with the proteinase, then adding an appropriate substrate, typically a chromogenic peptide substrate. See, for example, Norris et al. (Biol. Chem. Hoppe-Seyler 371:37-42, 1990). Briefly, various concentrations of the inhibitor are incubated in the presence of trypsin, plasmin, and plasma kallikrein in a low-salt buffer at pH 7.4, 25° C. After 30 minutes, the residual enzymatic activity is measured by the addition of a chromogenic substrate (e.g., S2251 (D-Val-Leu-Lys-Nan) or S2302 (D-Pro-Phe-Arg-Nan), available from Kabi, Stockholm, Sweden) and a 30-minute incubation. Inhibition of enzyme activity is indicated by a decrease in absorbance at 405 nm or fluorescence Em at 460 nm. From the results, the apparent inhibition constant K_(i) is calculated. The inhibition of coagulation factors (e.g., factor VIIa, factor Xa) can be measured using chromogenic substrates or in conventional coagulation assays (e.g., clotting time of normal human plasma; Dennis et al., ibid.).

Zkun5 proteins can be tested in animal models of disease, particularly tumor models, models of fibrinolysis, and models of imbalance of hemostasis. Suitable models are known in the art. For example, inhibition of tumor metastasis can be assessed in mice into which cancerous cells or tumor tissue have been introduced by implantation or injection (e.g., Brown, Advan. Enzyme Regul. 35:293-301, 1995; Conway et al., Clin. Exp. Metastasis 14:115-124, 1996). Effects on fibrinolysis can be measured in a rat model wherein the enzyme batroxobin and radiolabeled fibrinogen are administered to test animals. Inhibition of fibrinogen activation by a test compound is seen as a reduction in the circulating level of the label as compared to animals not receiving the test compound. See, Lenfors and Gustafsson, Semin. Thromb. Hemost. 22:335-342, 1996. Zkun5 proteins can be delivered to test animals by injection or infusion, or can be produced in vivo by way of, for example, viral or naked DNA delivery systems or transgenic expression.

Exemplary viral delivery systems include adenovirus, herpesvirus, vaccinia virus and adeno-associated virus (AAV) . Adenovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus, is currently the best studied gene transfer vector for delivery of heterologous nucleic acid (for a review, see Becker et al., Meth. Cell Biol. 43:161-189, 1994; and Douglas and Curiel, Science & Medicine 4:44-53, 1997). The adenovirus system offers several advantages: adenovirus can (i) accommodate relatively large DNA inserts; (ii) be grown to high titer; (iii) infect a broad range of mammalian cell types; and (iv) be used with a large number of available vectors containing different promoters. Also, because adenoviruses are stable in the bloodstream, they can be administered by intravenous injection. By deleting portions of the adenovirus genome, larger inserts (up to 7 kb) of heterologous DNA can be accommodated. These inserts can be incorporated into the viral DNA by direct ligation or by homologous recombination with a co-transfected plasmid. In an exemplary system, the essential E1 gene is deleted from the viral vector, and the virus will not replicate unless the E1 gene is provided by the host cell (e.g., the human 293 cell line). When intravenously administered to intact animals, adenovirus primarily targets the liver. If the adenoviral delivery system has an E1 gene deletion, the virus cannot replicate in the host cells. However, the host's tissue (e.g., liver) will express and process (and, if a signal sequence is present, secrete) the heterologous protein. Secreted proteins will enter the circulation in the highly vascularized liver, and effects on the infected animal can be determined.

An alternative method of gene delivery comprises removing cells from the body and introducing a vector into the cells as a naked DNA plasmid. The transformed cells are then re-implanted in the body. Naked DNA vectors are introduced into host cells by methods known in the art, including transfection, electroporation, microinjection, transduction, cell fusion, DEAE dextran, calcium phosphate precipitation, use of a gene gun, or use of a DNA vector transporter. See, Wu et al., J. Biol. Chem. 263:14621-14624, 1988; Wu et al., J. Biol. Chem. 267:963-967, 1992; and Johnston and Tang, Meth. Cell Biol. 43:353-365, 1994.

Transgenic mice, engineered to express a zkun5 gene, and mice that exhibit a complete absence of zkun5 gene function, referred to as "knockout mice" (Snouwaert et al., Science 257:1083, 1992), can also be generated (Lowell et al., Nature 366:740-742, 1993). These mice are employed to study the zkun5 gene and the encoded protein in an in vivo system. Transgenic mice are particularly useful for investigating the role of zkun5 proteins in early development because they allow the identification of developmental abnormalities or blocks resulting from the over- or underexpression of a specific factor.

The zkun5 polypeptides of the present invention, including full-length polypeptides, biologically active fragments, and fusion polypeptides can be produced in genetically engineered host cells according to conventional techniques. Suitable host cells are those cell types that can be transformed or transfected with exogenous DNA and grown in culture, and include bacteria, fungal cells, and cultured higher eukaryotic cells. Techniques for manipulating cloned DNA molecules and introducing exogenous DNA into a variety of host cells are disclosed by Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989, and Ausubel et al., eds., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., N.Y., 1987.

In general, a DNA sequence encoding a zkun5 polypeptide is operably linked to other genetic elements required for its expression, generally including a transcription promoter and terminator, within an expression vector. The vector will also commonly contain one or more selectable markers and one or more origins of replication, although those skilled in the art will recognize that within certain systems selectable markers may be provided on separate vectors, and replication of the exogenous DNA may be provided by integration into the host cell genome. Selection of promoters, terminators, selectable markers, vectors and other elements is a matter of routine design within the level of ordinary skill in the art. Many such elements are described in the literature and are available through commercial suppliers.

To direct a zkun5 polypeptide into the secretory pathway of a host cell, a secretory signal sequence (also known as a leader sequence, prepro sequence or pre sequence) is provided in the expression vector. The secretory signal sequence may be that of zkun5, or may be derived from another secreted protein (e.g., t-PA; see, U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,655) or synthesized de novo. The secretory signal sequence is operably linked to the zkun5 DNA sequence, i.e., the two sequences are joined in the correct reading frame and positioned to direct the newly sythesized polypeptide into the secretory pathway of the host cell. Secretory signal sequences are commonly positioned 5' to the DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide of interest, although certain signal sequences may be positioned elsewhere in the DNA sequence of interest (see, e.g., Welch et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,743; Holland et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,830).

Cultured mammalian cells are suitable hosts for use within the present invention. Methods for introducing exogenous DNA into mammalian host cells include calcium phosphate-mediated transfection (Wigler et al., Cell 14:725, 1978; Corsaro and Pearson, Somatic Cell Genetics 7:603, 1981: Graham and Van der Eb, Virology 52:456, 1973), electroporation (Neumann et al., EMBO J. 1:841-845, 1982), DEAE-dextran mediated transfection (Ausubel et al., ibid.), and liposome-mediated transfection (Hawley-Nelson et al., Focus 15:73, 1993; Ciccarone et al., Focus 15:80, 1993). The production of recombinant polypeptides in cultured mammalian cells is disclosed, for example, by Levinson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,339; Hagen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,950; Palmiter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,821; and Ringold, U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,134. Suitable cultured mammalian cells include the COS-1 (ATCC No. CRL 1650), COS-7 (ATCC No. CRL 1651), BHK (ATCC No. CRL 1632), BHK 570 (ATCC No. CRL 10314), 293 (ATCC No. CRL 1573; Graham et al., J. Gen. Virol. 36:59-72, 1977) and Chinese hamster ovary (e.g. CHO-K1; ATCC No. CCL 61) cell lines. Additional suitable cell lines are known in the art and available from public depositories such as the American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md. In general, strong transcription promoters are preferred, such as promoters from SV-40 or cytomegalovirus. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,288. Other suitable promoters include those from metallothionein genes (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,579,821 and 4,601,978) and the adenovirus major late promoter. Expression vectors for use in mammalian cells include pZP-1 and pZP-9, which have been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md. USA under accession numbers 98669 and 98668, respectively.

Drug selection is generally used to select for cultured mammalian cells into which foreign DNA has been inserted. Such cells are commonly referred to as "transfectants". Cells that have been cultured in the presence of the selective agent and are able to pass the gene of interest to their progeny are referred to as "stable transfectants." A preferred selectable marker is a gene encoding resistance to the antibiotic neomycin. Selection is carried out in the presence of a neomycin-type drug, such as G-418 or the like. Selection systems can also be used to increase the expression level of the gene of interest, a process referred to as "amplification." Amplification is carried out by culturing transfectants in the presence of a low level of the selective agent and then increasing the amount of selective agent to select for cells that produce high levels of the products of the introduced genes. A preferred amplifiable selectable marker is dihydrofolate reductase, which confers resistance to methotrexate. Other drug resistance genes (e.g. hygromycin resistance, multi-drug resistance, puromycin acetyltransferase) can also be used.

Other higher eukaryotic cells can also be used as hosts, including insect cells, plant cells and avian cells. The use of Agrobacterium rhizogenes as a vector for expressing genes in plant cells has been reviewed by Sinkar et al., J. Biosci. (Bangalore) 11:47-58, 1987. Transformation of insect cells and production of foreign polypeptides therein is disclosed by Guarino et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,222 and WIPO publication WO 94/06463.

Insect cells can be infected with recombinant baculovirus, commonly derived from Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV). See, King and Possee, The Baculovirus Expression System: A Laboratory Guide, London, Chapman & Hall; O'Reilly et al., Baculovirus Expression Vectors: A Laboratory Manual, New York, Oxford University Press., 1994; and Richardson, Ed., Baculovirus Expression Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, Humana Press, Totowa, N.J., 1995. Recombinant baculovirus can also be produced through the use of a transposon-based system described by Luckow et al. (J. Virol. 67:4566-4579, 1993). This system, which utilizes transfer vectors, is commercially available in kit form (Bac-to-Bac™ kit; Life Technologies, Rockville, Md.). The transfer vector (e.g., pFastBac1™; Life Technologies) contains a Tn7 transposon to move the DNA encoding the protein of interest into a baculovirus genome maintained in E. coli as a large plasmid called a "bacmid." See, Hill-Perkins and Possee, J. Gen. Virol. 71:971-976, 1990; Bonning et al., J. Gen. Virol. 75:1551-1556, 1994; and Chazenbalk and Rapoport, J. Biol. Chem. 270:1543-1549, 1995. In addition, transfer vectors can include an in-frame fusion with DNA encoding a polypeptide extension or affinity tag as disclosed above. Using techniques known in the art, a transfer vector containing a zkun5-encoding sequence is transformed into E. coli host cells, and the cells are screened for bacmids which contain an interrupted lacZ gene indicative of recombinant baculovirus. The bacmid DNA containing the recombinant baculovirus genome is isolated, using common techniques, and used to transfect Spodoptera frugiperda cells, such as Sf9 cells. Recombinant virus that expresses zkun5 protein is subsequently produced. Recombinant viral stocks are made by methods commonly used the art.

For protein production, the recombinant virus is used to infect host cells, typically a cell line derived from the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (e.g., Sf9 or Sf21 cells) or Trichoplusia ni (e.g., High Five™ cells; Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). See, in general, Glick and Pasternak, Molecular Biotechnology: Principles and Applications of Recombinant DNA, ASM Press, Washington, D.C., 1994. See also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,435. Serum-free media are used to grow and maintain the cells. Suitable media formulations are known in the art and can be obtained from commercial suppliers. The cells are grown up from an inoculation density of approximately 2-5×10⁵ cells to a density of 1-2×10⁶ cells, at which time a recombinant viral stock is added at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.1 to 10, more typically near 3. Procedures used are generally described in available laboratory manuals (e.g., King and Possee, ibid.; O'Reilly et al., ibid.; Richardson, ibid.).

Fungal cells, including yeast cells, can also be used within the present invention. Yeast species of particular interest in this regard include Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia pastoris, and Pichia methanolica. Methods for transforming S. cerevisiae cells with exogenous DNA and producing recombinant polypeptides therefrom are disclosed by, for example, Kawasaki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,311; Kawasaki et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,373; Brake, U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,008; Welch et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,743; and Murray et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,075. Transformed cells are selected by phenotype determined by the selectable marker, commonly drug resistance or the ability to grow in the absence of a particular nutrient (e.g., leucine). A preferred vector system for use in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the POT1 vector system disclosed by Kawasaki et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,373), which allows transformed cells to be selected by growth in glucose-containing media. Suitable promoters and terminators for use in yeast include those from glycolytic enzyme genes (see, e.g., Kawasaki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,311; Kingsman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,974; and Bitter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,092) and alcohol dehydrogenase genes. See also U.S. Pats. Nos. 4,990,446; 5,063,154; 5,139,936 and 4,661,454. Transformation systems for other yeasts, including Hansenula polymorpha, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces lactis, Kluyveromyces fragilis, Ustilago maydis, Pichia pastoris, Pichia methanolica, Pichia guillermondii and Candida maltosa are known in the art. See, for example, Gleeson et al., J. Gen. Microbiol. 132:3459-3465, 1986 and Cregg, U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,279. Aspergillus cells may be utilized according to the methods of McKnight et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,349. Methods for transforming Acremonium chrysogenum are disclosed by Sumino et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,228. Methods for transforming Neurospora are disclosed by Lambowitz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,533. The use of Pichia methanolica as host for the production of recombinant proteins is disclosed in U.S. Pats. No. 5,716,808, 5,736,383, 5,854,039, and 5,888,768; and WIPO Publications WO 97/17450 and W097/17451.

Prokaryotic host cells, including strains of the bacteria Escherichia coli, Bacillus and other genera are also useful host cells within the present invention. Techniques for transforming these hosts and expressing foreign DNA sequences cloned therein are well known in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook et al., ibid.). When expressing a zkun5 polypeptide in bacteria such as E. coli, the polypeptide may be retained in the cytoplasm, typically as insoluble granules, or may be directed to the periplasmic space by a bacterial secretion sequence. In the former case, the cells are lysed, and the granules are recovered and denatured using, for example, guanidine isothiocyanate or urea. The denatured polypeptide can then be refolded and dimerized by diluting the denaturant, such as by dialysis against a solution of urea and a combination of reduced and oxidized glutathione, followed by dialysis against a buffered saline solution. In the latter case, the polypeptide can be recovered from the periplasmic space in a soluble and functional form by disrupting the cells (by, for example, sonication or osmotic shock) to release the contents of the periplasmic space and recovering the protein, thereby obviating the need for denaturation and refolding.

Transformed or transfected host cells are cultured according to conventional procedures in a culture medium containing nutrients and other components required for the growth of the chosen host cells. A variety of suitable media, including defined media and complex media, are known in the art and generally include a carbon source, a nitrogen source, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Media may also contain such components as growth factors or serum, as required. The growth medium will generally select for cells containing the exogenously added DNA by, for example, drug selection or deficiency in an essential nutrient which is complemented by the selectable marker carried on the expression vector or co-transfected into the host cell.

Zkun5 polypeptides, particularly shorter polypeptides, can also be prepared through chemical synthesis according to methods known in the art, including exclusive solid phase synthesis, partial solid phase methods, fragment condensation or classical solution synthesis. See, for example, Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85:2149, 1963; Stewart et al., Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (2nd edition), Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, Ill., 1984; Bayer and Rapp, Chem. Pept. Prot. 3:3, 1986; and Atherton et al., Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis: A Practical Approach, IRL Press, Oxford, 1989.

It is preferred to purify the proteins of the present invention to ≧80% purity, more preferably to ≧90% purity, even more preferably ≧95% purity, and particularly preferred is a pharmaceutically pure state, that is greater than 99.9% pure with respect to contaminating macromolecules, particularly other proteins and nucleic acids, and free of infectious and pyrogenic agents. Preferably, a purified protein is substantially free of other proteins, particularly other proteins of animal origin.

Zkun5 proteins are purified by conventional protein purification methods, typically by a combination of chromatographic techniques. Polypeptides comprising a polyhistidine affinity tag (typically about 6 histidine residues) are purified by affinity chromatography on a nickel chelate resin. See, for example, Houchuli et al., Bio/Technol. 6: 1321-1325, 1988.

Using methods known in the art, zkun5 proteins can be produced glycosylated or non-glycosylated; pegylated or non-pegylated; and may or may not include an initial methionine amino acid residue.

The zkun5 proteins are contemplated for use in the treatment or prevention of conditions associated with excessive proteinase activity, in particular an excess of trypsin, plasmin, kallikrein, elastase, cathepsin G, proteinase-3, thrombin, factor VIIa, factor IXa, factor Xa, factor XIa, factor XIIa, or matrix metalloproteinases. Such conditions include, but are not limited to, acute pancreatitis, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)-induced pulmonary injury, allergy-induced protease release, deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction, shock (including septic shock), hyperfibrinolytic hemorrhage, emphysema, rheumatoid arthritis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, and other inflammatory conditions. Zkun5 proteins are also contemplated for use in preservation of platelet function, organ preservation, and wound healing.

Zkun5 proteins may be useful in the treatment of conditions arising from an imbalance in hemostasis, including acquired coagulopathies, primary fibrinolysis and fibrinolysis due to cirrhosis, and complications from high-dose thrombolytic therapy. Acquired coagulopathies can result from liver disease, uremia, acute disseminated intravascular coagulation, post-cardiopulmonary bypass, massive transfusion, or Warfarin overdose (Humphries, Transfusion Medicine 1:1181-1201, 1994). A deficiency or dysfunction in any of the procoagulant mechanisms predisposes the patient to either spontaneous hemorrhage or excess blood loss associated with trauma or surgery. Acquired coagulopathies usually involve a combination of deficiencies, such as deficiencies of a plurality of coagulation factors, and/or platelet dysfunction. In addition, patients with liver disease commonly experience increased fibrinolysis due to an inability to maintain normal levels of α₂ -antiplasmin and/or decreased hepatic clearance of plasminogen activators (Shuman, Hemorrhagic Disorders, in Bennet and Plum, eds. Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 20th ed., W. B. Saunders Co., 1996). Primary fibrinolysis results from a massive release of plasminogen activator. Conditions associated with primary fibrinolysis include carcinoma of the prostate, acute promyelocytic leukemia, hemangiomas, and sustained release of plasminogen activator by endothelial cells due to injection of venoms. The condition becomes critical when enough plasmin is activated to deplete the circulating level of α₂ -antiplasmin (Shuman, ibid.). Data suggest that plasmin on endothelial cells may be related to the pathophysiology of bleeding or rethrombosis observed in patients undergoing high-dose thrombolytic therapy for thrombosis. Plasmin may cause further damage to the thrombogenic surface of blood vessels after thrombolysis, which may result in rethrombosis (Okajima, J. Lab. Clin. Med. 126:1377-1384, 1995).

Additional antithrombotic uses of zkun5 proteins include treatment or prevention of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and post-surgical thrombosis.

Zkun5 proteins may also be used within methods for inhibiting blood coagulation in mammals, such as in the treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Zkun5 proteins may thus be used in place of known anticoagulants such as heparin, coumarin, and anti-thrombin III. Such methods will generally include administration of the protein in an amount sufficient to produce a clinically significant inhibition of blood coagulation. Such amounts will vary with the nature of the condition to be treated, but can be predicted on the basis of known assays and experimental animal models, and will in general be within the ranges disclosed below.

Zkun5 proteins may also find therapeutic use in the blockage of proteolytic tissue degradation. Proteolysis of extracellular matrix, connective tissue, and other tissues and organs is an element of many diseases. This tissue destruction is beleived to be initiated when plasmin activates one or more matrix metalloproteinases (e.g., collagenase and metalloelastases). Inhibition of plasmin by zkun5 proteins may thus be beneficial in the treatment of these conditions.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are believed to play a role in metastases of cancers, abdominal aortic aneurysm, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, trauma and hemorrhagic shock, and cornial ulcers. MMPs produced by tumor cells break down and remodel tissue matrices during the process of metastatic spread. There is evidence to suggest that MMP inhibitors may block this activity (Brown, Advan. Enzyme Regul. 35:293-301, 1995). Abdominal aortic aneurysm is characterized by the degradation of extracellular matrix and loss of structural integrity of the aortic wall. Data suggest that plasmin may be important in the sequence of events leading to this destruction of aortic matrix (Jean-Claude et al., Surgery 116:472-478, 1994). Proteolytic enzymes are also believed to contribute to the inflammatory tissue damage of multiple sclerosis (Gijbels, J. Clin. Invest. 94:2177-2182, 1994). Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease predominantly affecting joints and other connective tissues, wherein proliferating inflammatory tissue (panus) may cause joint deformities and dysfunction (see, Arnett, in Cecil Textbook of Medicine, ibid.). Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease causing deterioration of the joint cartilage and other joint tissues and the formation of new bone (bone spurs) at the margins of the joints. There is evidence that MMPs participate in the degradation of collagen in the matrix of osteoarthritic articular cartilage. Inhition of MMPs results in the inhibition of the removal of collagen from cartilage matrix (Spirito, Inflam. Res. 44 (supp. 2):S131-S132, 1995; O'Byrne, Inflam. Res. 44 (supp. 2):S117-S118, 1995; Karran, Ann. Rheumatic Disease 54:662-669, 1995). Zkun5 proteins may also be useful in the treatment of trauma and hemorrhagic shock. Data suggest that administration of an MMP inhibitor after hemorrhage improves cardiovascular response, hepatocellular function, and microvascular blood flow in various organs (Wang, Shock 6:377-382, 1996). Corneal ulcers, which can result in blindness, manifest as a breakdown of the collagenous stromal tissue. Damage due to thermal or chemical injury to corneal surfaces often results in a chronic wound-healing situation. There is direct evidence for the role of MMPs in basement membrane defects associated with failure to re-epithelialize in cornea or skin (Fini, Am. J. Pathol. 149:1287-1302, 1996).

The zkun5 proteins of the present invention may be combined with other therapeutic agents to augment the activity (e.g., antithrombotic or anticoagulant activity) of such agents. For example, a zkun5 protein may be used in combination with tissue plasminogen activator in thrombolytic therapy.

Doses of zkun5 proteins will vary according to the severity of the condition being treated and may range from approximately 10 μg/kg to 10 mg/kg body weight, preferably 100 μg/kg to 5 mg/kg, more preferably 100 μg/kg to 1 mg/kg. The proteins formulated in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or vehicle. It is preferred to prepare them in a form suitable for injection or infusion, such as by dilution with with sterile water, an isotonic saline or glucose solution, or similar vehicle. In the alternative, the protein may be packaged as a lyophilized powder, optionally in combination with a pre-measured diluent, and resuspended immediately prior to use. Pharmaceutical compositions may further include one or more excipients, preservatives, solubilizers, buffering agents, albumin to prevent protein loss on vial surfaces, etc. Formulation methods are within the level of ordinary skill in the art. See, Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 19th ed., 1995.

Gene therapy provides an alternative therapeutic approach for delivery of zkun5 proteins. If a mammal has a mutated or absent zkun5 gene, a polynucleotide encoding a zkun5 protein can be introduced into the cells of the mammal. In one embodiment, a gene encoding a zkun5 protein is introduced in vivo in a viral vector. Such vectors include an attenuated or defective DNA virus, such as herpes simplex virus (HSV), papillomavirus, Epstein Barr virus (EBV), adenovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV), and the like. Defective viruses, which entirely or almost entirely lack viral genes, are preferred. A defective virus is not infective after introduction into a cell. Use of defective viral vectors allows for administration to cells in a specific, localized area, without concern that the vector can infect other cells. Examples of particular vectors include, without limitation, a defective herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) vector (Kaplitt et al., Molec. Cell. Neurosci. 2:320-30, 1991); an attenuated adenovirus vector, such as the vector described by Stratford-Perricaudet et al., J. Clin. Invest. 90:626-30, 1992; and a defective adeno-associated virus vector (Samulski et al., J. Virol. 61:3096-101, 1987; Samulski et al., J. Virol. 63:3822-8, 1989).

Within another embodiment, a zkun5 polynucleotide can be introduced in a retroviral vector, as described, for example, by Anderson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,346; Mann et al. Cell 33:153, 1983; Temin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,764; Temin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,289; Markowitz et al., J. Virol. 62:1120, 1988; Temin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,263; Dougherty et al., WIPO Publication No. WO 95/07358; and Kuo et al., Blood 82:845, 1993. Alternatively, the vector can be introduced by lipofection in vivo using liposomes. Synthetic cationic lipids can be used to prepare liposomes for in vivo transfection of a gene encoding a marker (Felgner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:7413-7, 1987; Mackey et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:8027-31, 1988).

Within a further embodiment, target cells are removed from the body, and a vector is introduced into the cells as a naked DNA plasmid. The transformed cells are then re-implanted into the body. Naked DNA vectors for gene therapy can be introduced into the desired host cells by methods known in the art, e.g., transfection, electroporation, microinjection, transduction, cell fusion, DEAE dextran, calcium phosphate precipitation, use of a gene gun or use of a DNA vector transporter. See, for example, Wu et al., J. Biol. Chem. 267:963-7, 1992; Wu et al., J. Biol. Chem. 263:14621-4, 1988.

Zkun5 proteins can also be used to prepare antibodies that specifically bind to zkun5 proteins. As used herein, the term "antibodies" includes polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, antigen-binding fragments thereof such as F(ab')₂ and Fab fragments, single chain antibodies, and the like, including genetically engineered antibodies. Non-human antibodies can be humanized by grafting only non-human CDRs onto human framework and constant regions, or by incorporating the entire non-human variable domains (optionally "cloaking" them with a human-like surface by replacement of exposed residues, wherein the result is a "veneered" antibody). In some instances, humanized antibodies may retain non-human residues within the human variable region framework domains to enhance proper binding characteristics. Through humanizing antibodies, biological half-life may be increased, and the potential for adverse immune reactions upon administration to humans is reduced. One skilled in the art can generate humanized antibodies with specific and different constant domains (i.e., different Ig subclasses) to facilitate or inhibit various immune functions associated with particular antibody constant domains. Alternative techniques for generating or selecting antibodies useful herein include in vitro exposure of lymphocytes to a zkun5 protein, and selection of antibody display libraries in phage or similar vectors (for instance, through use of immobilized or labeled zkun5 polypeptide). Antibodies are defined to be specifically binding if they bind to a zkun5 protein with an affinity at least 10-fold greater than the binding affinity to control (non-zkun5) polypeptide. It is preferred that the antibodies exhibit a binding affinity (K_(a)) of 10⁶ M⁻¹ or greater, preferably 10⁷ M⁻¹ or greater, more preferably 10⁸ M⁻¹ or greater, and most preferably 10⁹ M⁻¹ or greater. The affinity of a monoclonal antibody can be readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art (see, for example, Scatchard, Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 51: 660-672, 1949).

Methods for preparing polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are well known in the art (see for example, Hurrell, J. G. R., Ed., Monoclonal Hybridoma Antibodies: Techniques and Applications, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Fla., 1982). As would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art, polyclonal antibodies can be generated from a variety of warm-blooded animals such as horses, cows, goats, sheep, dogs, chickens, rabbits, mice, and rats. The immunogenicity of a zkun5 protein may be increased through the use of an adjuvant such as alum (aluminum hydroxide) or Freund's complete or incomplete adjuvant. Polypeptides useful for immunization also include fusion polypeptides, such as fusions of a zkun5 protein or a portion thereof with an immunoglobulin polypeptide or with maltose binding protein. The polypeptide immunogen may be a full-length molecule or a portion thereof. If the polypeptide portion is "hapten-like", such portion may be advantageously joined or linked to a macromolecular carrier (such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), bovine serum albumin (BSA) or tetanus toxoid) for immunization.

Immunogenic zkun5 polypeptides may be as small as 5 residues. It is preferred to use polypeptides that are hydrophilic or comprise a hydrophilic region. A preferred such region of SEQ ID NO:2 includes residues 43-59.

A variety of assays known to those skilled in the art can be utilized to detect antibodies that specifically bind to a zkun5 protein. Exemplary assays are described in detail in Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Harlow and Lane (Eds.), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1988. Representative examples of such assays include concurrent immunoelectrophoresis, radio-immunoassays, radio-immunoprecipitations, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), dot blot assays, Western blot assays, inhibition or competition assays, and sandwich assays.

Antibodies to zkun5 may be used for affinity purification of zkun5 proteins; within diagnostic assays for determining circulating levels of zkun5 proteins; for detecting or quantitating soluble zkun5 protein as a marker of underlying pathology or disease; for immunolocalization within whole animals or tissue sections, including immunodiagnostic applications; for immunohistochemistry; for screening expression libraries; and for other uses that will be evident to those skilled in the art. For certain applications, including in vitro and in vivo diagnostic uses, it is advantageous to employ labeled antibodies. Suitable direct tags or labels include radionuclides, enzymes, substrates, cofactors, inhibitors, fluorescent markers, chemiluminescent markers, magnetic particles and the like; indirect tags or labels may feature use of biotin-avidin or other complement/anti-complement pairs as intermediates.

Zkun5 proteins may be used in the laboratory or commercial preparation of proteins from cultured cells. The proteins can be used alone to inhibit specific proteolysis or can be combined with other proteinase inhibitors to provide a "cocktail" with a broad spectrum of activity. Of particular interest is the inhibition of cellular proteases, which can be release during cell lysis. The proteins can also be used in the laboratory as a tissue culture additive to prevent cell detachment.

The present invention also provides reagents for use in diagnostic applications. For example, the zkun5 gene, a probe comprising zkun5 DNA or RNA or a subsequence thereof can be used to determine if the zkun5 gene is present on chromosome 7 or if a mutation has occurred. Detectable chromosomal aberrations at the zkun5 gene locus include, but are not limited to, aneuploidy, gene copy number changes, insertions, deletions, restriction site changes and rearrangements. Such aberrations can be detected using polynucleotides of the present invention by employing molecular genetic techniques, such as restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, short tandem repeat (STR) analysis employing PCR techniques, and other genetic linkage analysis techniques known in the art (Sambrook et al., ibid.; Ausubel et. al., ibid.; Marian, Chest 108:255-65, 1995).

Zkun5 polynucleotides can also be used for chromosomal mapping. The human zkun5 gene has be localized to 7p22.2-p22.1. Localization of the zkun5 gene facilitates the establishment of directly proportional physical distances between newly discovered genes of interest and previously mapped markers, including zkun5. The precise knowledge of a gene's position can be useful for a number of purposes, including: 1) determining if a newly identified sequence is part of an previously identified gene or gene segment and obtaining additional surrounding genetic sequences in various forms, such as YACs, BACs or cDNA clones; 2) providing a possible candidate gene for an inheritable disease which shows linkage to the same chromosomal region; and 3) cross-referencing model organisms, such as mouse, which may aid in determining what function a particular gene might have. A useful technique in this regard is radiation hybrid mapping, a somatic cell genetic technique developed for constructing high-resolution, contiguous maps of mammalian chromosomes (Cox et al., Science 250:245-50, 1990). Partial or full knowledge of a gene's sequence allows one to design PCR primers suitable for use with chromosomal radiation hybrid mapping panels. Radiation hybrid mapping panels, which are commercially available (e.g., the Stanford G3 RH Panel and the GeneBridge 4 RH Panel, available from Research Genetics, Inc., Huntsville, Ala.), cover the entire human genome. These panels enable rapid, PCR-based chromosomal localizations and ordering of genes, sequence-tagged sites (STSs), and other nonpolymorphic and polymorphic markers within a region of interest.

Sequence tagged sites (STSs) can also be used independently for chromosomal localization. An STS is a DNA sequence that is unique in the human genome and can be used as a reference point for a particular chromosome or region of a chromosome. An STS is defined by a pair of oligonucleotide primers that are used in a polymerase chain reaction to specifically detect this site in the presence of all other genomic sequences. Since STSs are based solely on DNA sequence they can be completely described within an electronic database (for example, Database of Sequence Tagged Sites (dbSTS), GenBank; National Center for Biological Information, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) and can be searched with a gene sequence of interest for the mapping data contained within these short genomic landmark STS sequences.

The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES Example 1

The 139-nucleotide sequence of an expressed sequence tag (EST) was analyzed and found to encode a C-terminal portion of a Kunitz domain. A clone corresponding to this EST was obtained and sequenced. The clone contained the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1. This Kunitz domain sequence was designatied "zkun5".

Analysis of tissue distribution of zkun5 was performed by Northern blotting (using Human Multiple Tissue Blots I, II, and III, and Human RNA Master blot from Clontech Laboratories, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.). A probe was made from a gel-purified EcoRI-XhoI fragment of the origninal zkun5 clone, and was radioactively labeled using a commercially available labeling kit (Rediprime™ DNA labeling system, Amersham Corp., Arlington Heights, Ill.) according to the manufacturer's specifications. The probe was purified using a commercially available push column (NucTrap® column; Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.; see U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,412). A commercially available hybridization solution (ExpressHyb™ Hybridization Solution; Clontech Laboratories, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.) was used for prehybridization and as a hybridization solution for the blots. Hybridization took place overnight at 65° C., and the blots were then washed in 2X SSC and 0.05% SDS at room temperature, followed by a wash in 0.1X SSC and 0.1% SDS at 55° C. Two major transcript were observed at sizes of 7.5 kb and 5.0 kb. Signals were present in many tissues, including spinal cord, trachea, heart, colon, small intestine, stomach, placenta, skeletal muscle, kidney, pancreas, prostate, testis, thyroid, and adrenal gland. The RNA appeared to be subject to a tissue specific splicing event since trachea, testis and placenta give different size bands from the others.

Example 2

Based on the tissue distribution from the Northern blotting experiments (see Example 1), 5' RACE was performed on cDNAs made from several tissues including pancreas, heart, stomach and testis. The cDNAs were prepared using a a commercially available kit (Marathon™ cDNA Amplification Kit from Clontech Laboratories, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.) and an oligo(dT) primer.

To amplify the zkun5 DNA, 5 μl each of 1/100 diluted cDNAs, 20 pmoles each of oligonucleotide primers ZC9739 (SEQ ID NO:12) and ZC15,999 (SEQ ID NO:13), and 1 U of a 2:1 mixture of ExTaq™ DNA polymerase (TaKaRa Biomedicals) and Pfu DNA polymerasse (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) (ExTaq/Pfu) were used in 25-μl reaction mixtures. The reaction mixtures were incubated at 94° C. for 2 minutes; 25 cycles of 94° C. for 15 seconds, 66° C. for 20 seconds, and 72° C. for 30 seconds; and a 1-minute incubation at 72° C. 1 pl each of 1/100 diluted first PCR product was used as template for a nested PCR. 20 pmoles each of oligonucleotide primers ZC9719 (SEQ ID NO:14) and ZC15,998 (SEQ ID NO:15), and 1 U of ExTaq/Pfu were used in 25-μl reaction mixtures. The mixtures were incubated at 94° C. for 2 minutes; 2 cycles of 94° C. for 15 seconds, 66° C. for 20 seconds, 72° C. for 30 seconds; 25 cycles of 94° C. for 15 seconds, 64° C. for 20 seconds, 72° C. for 30 seconds; and a 1-minute incubation at 72° C. The PCR products were gel purified and sequenced. Sequencing results indicated that the PCR products extended the original EST clone to include an intact Kunitz domain. The sequence of the PCR-generated clone is shown in SEQ ID NO:9.

To construct an expression vector for the zkun5 Kunitz domain, PCR was performed on cDNA prepared from pancreas as disclosed above. Based on the domain comparison with other known Kunitz domains, primers were designed such that the PCR product would encode an intact Kunitz domain with restriction sites Bam HI in sense primer ZC17,238 (SEQ ID NO:16) and Xho I in antisense primer ZC17,240 (SEQ ID NO:17) to facilitate subcloning into an expression vector. A silent mutation (nucleotide T to C) was introduced in the sense primer ZC17,238 (SEQ ID NO:16) to remove an internal Bam HI site within the Kunitz domain sequence. 5 μl of 1/100 diluted cDNA, 20 pmoles each of oligonucleotide primers ZC17,238 (SEQ ID NO:16) and ZC17,240 (SEQ ID NO:17), and 1 U of ExTaq/Pfu were used in 25-μl reaction mixtures. The mixtures were incubated at 94° C. for 2 minutes; 3 cycles of 94° C. for 30 seconds, 50° C. for 30 seconds, 72° C. for 30 seconds; 35 cycles of 94° C. for 30 seconds, 68° C. for 30 seconds; and a 7-minute incubation at 72° C. The PCR product was gel purified and restriction digested with Bam HI and Xho I overnight.

A mammalian expression vector was constructed with the dihyrofolate reductase gene selectable marker under control of the SV40 early promoter, SV40 polyadenylation site, a cloning site to insert the gene of interest under control of the mouse metallothionein 1 (MT-1) promoter and the hGH polyadenylation site. The expression vector was designated pZP-9 and has been deposited at the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. under accession no 98668. To facilitate protein purification, the pZP9 vector was modified by addition of a tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) secretory signal sequence (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,655) and a GluGlu tag sequence (SEQ ID NO:18) between the MT-1 promoter and hGH terminator. The t-PA secretory signal sequence replaces the native secretory signal sequence for DNAs encoding polypeptides of interest that are inserted into this vector, and expression results in an N-terminally tagged protein. The N-terminally tagged vector was designated pZP9NEE. The vector was digested with Bam HI and Xho I, and the zkun5 fragment was inserted. The resulting construct was confirmed by sequencing.

Example 3

The human zkun5 gene was mapped to chromosome 7 using the commercially available GeneBridge 4 Radiation Hybrid Panel (Research Genetics, Inc., Huntsville, Ala.) The GeneBridge 4 Radiation Hybrid Panel contains PCRable DNAs from each of 93 radiation hybrid clones, plus two control DNAs (the HFL donor and the A23 recipient). A publicly available world-wide web server (http://wwwgenome.wi.mit.edu/cgi-bin/contig/rhmapper.pl) allows mapping relative to the Whitehead Institute/MIT Center for Genome Research's radiation hybrid map of the human genome (the "WICGR" radiation hybrid map), which was constructed with the GeneBridge 4 Radiation Hybrid Panel.

For the mapping of the zkun5 gene, 20-μl reaction mixtures were set up in a PCRable 96-well microtiter plate (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) and used in a thermal cycler (RoboCycler® Gradient 96; Stratagene). Each of the 95 PCR reaction mixtures contained 2 μl buffer (10X KlenTaq PCR reaction buffer; Clontech Laboratories, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.), 1.6 μl dNTPs mix (2.5 mM each, PERKIN-ELMER, Foster City, Calif.), 1 μl sense primer (ZC16,523; SEQ ID NO:19), 1 μl antisense primer (ZC16,522; SEQ ID NO:20), 2 μl of a density increasing agent and tracking dye (RediLoad, Research Genetics, Inc., Huntsville, Ala.), 0.4 μl of a commercially available DNA polymerase/antibody mix (50X Advantage™ KlenTaq Polymerase Mix; Clontech Laboratories, Inc.), 25 ng of DNA from an individual hybrid clone or control and x μl ddH₂ O, for a total volume of 20 μl. The mixtures were overlaid with an equal amount of mineral oil and sealed. The PCR cycler conditions were as follows: an initial 5 minute denaturation at 95° C.; 35 cycles of a 1 minute denaturation at 95° C., 1 minute annealing at 64° C., and 1.5 minute extension at 72° C.; followed by a final extension of 7 minutes at 72° C. The reaction products were separated by electrophoresis on a 2% agarose gel (Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.).

The results showed that the zkun5 gene maps 2.74 cR₋₋ 3000 from the framework marker D7S481 on the chromosome 7 WICGR radiation hybrid map. Proximal and distal framework markers were D7S481 and CHLC.GATA84A08, respectively. The use of surrounding markers positions the zkun5 gene in the 7p22.2-p22.1 region on the integrated LDB chromosome 7 map (The Genetic Location Database, University of Southhampton, WWW server: http://cedar.genetics. soton.ac.uk/public₋₋ html/).

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING                                                 - <160> NUMBER OF SEQ ID NOS: 20                                               - <210> SEQ ID NO 1                                                            <211> LENGTH: 186                                                              <212> TYPE: DNA                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens                                                   <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: CDS                                                            <222> LOCATION: (1)...(186)                                                    - <400> SEQUENCE: 1                                                            - gtg gat ggg gca gag gac cct aga tgt ttg ga - #a gcc ttg aag cct gga            48                                                                           Val Asp Gly Ala Glu Asp Pro Arg Cys Leu Gl - #u Ala Leu Lys Pro Gly            #                 15                                                           - aac tgt ggt gaa tat gtg gtt cga tgg tat ta - #t gac aaa cag gtc aac            96                                                                           Asn Cys Gly Glu Tyr Val Val Arg Trp Tyr Ty - #r Asp Lys Gln Val Asn            #             30                                                               - tct tgt gcc cga ttt tgg ttc agt ggc tgt aa - #t ggc tca gga aat aga           144                                                                           Ser Cys Ala Arg Phe Trp Phe Ser Gly Cys As - #n Gly Ser Gly Asn Arg            #         45                                                                   - ttc aac agt gaa aag gaa tgt caa gaa acc tg - #c att caa gga                  # 186                                                                          Phe Asn Ser Glu Lys Glu Cys Gln Glu Thr Cy - #s Ile Gln Gly                    #     60                                                                       - <210> SEQ ID NO 2                                                            <211> LENGTH: 62                                                               <212> TYPE: PRT                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens                                                   - <400> SEQUENCE: 2                                                            - Val Asp Gly Ala Glu Asp Pro Arg Cys Leu Gl - #u Ala Leu Lys Pro Gly          #                15                                                            - Asn Cys Gly Glu Tyr Val Val Arg Trp Tyr Ty - #r Asp Lys Gln Val Asn          #            30                                                                - Ser Cys Ala Arg Phe Trp Phe Ser Gly Cys As - #n Gly Ser Gly Asn Arg          #        45                                                                    - Phe Asn Ser Glu Lys Glu Cys Gln Glu Thr Cy - #s Ile Gln Gly                  #    60                                                                        - <210> SEQ ID NO 3                                                            <211> LENGTH: 186                                                              <212> TYPE: DNA                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <223> OTHER INFORMATION: engineered variant                                    <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: CDS                                                            <222> LOCATION: (1)...(186)                                                    <221> NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- feature                                            <222> LOCATION: (1)...(186)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: n = A,T,C or G                                        - <400> SEQUENCE: 3                                                            - gtg gat ggg gca gag gac cct aga tgt ttg ga - #a gcc ttg aag cct gga            48                                                                           Val Asp Gly Ala Glu Asp Pro Arg Cys Leu Gl - #u Ala Leu Lys Pro Gly            #                 15                                                           - aac tgt ggt gcn tat gtg gtt cga tgg tat ta - #t gac aaa cag gtc aac            96                                                                           Asn Cys Gly Ala Tyr Val Val Arg Trp Tyr Ty - #r Asp Lys Gln Val Asn            #             30                                                               - tct tgt gcc cga ttt tgg ttc agt ggc tgt aa - #t ggc tca gga aat aga           144                                                                           Ser Cys Ala Arg Phe Trp Phe Ser Gly Cys As - #n Gly Ser Gly Asn Arg            #         45                                                                   - ttc aac agt gaa aag gaa tgt caa gaa acc tg - #c att caa gga                  # 186                                                                          Phe Asn Ser Glu Lys Glu Cys Gln Glu Thr Cy - #s Ile Gln Gly                    #     60                                                                       - <210> SEQ ID NO 4                                                            <211> LENGTH: 62                                                               <212> TYPE: PRT                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <223> OTHER INFORMATION: engineered variant                                    - <400> SEQUENCE: 4                                                            - Val Asp Gly Ala Glu Asp Pro Arg Cys Leu Gl - #u Ala Leu Lys Pro Gly          #                15                                                            - Asn Cys Gly Ala Tyr Val Val Arg Trp Tyr Ty - #r Asp Lys Gln Val Asn          #            30                                                                - Ser Cys Ala Arg Phe Trp Phe Ser Gly Cys As - #n Gly Ser Gly Asn Arg          #        45                                                                    - Phe Asn Ser Glu Lys Glu Cys Gln Glu Thr Cy - #s Ile Gln Gly                  #    60                                                                        - <210> SEQ ID NO 5                                                            <211> LENGTH: 51                                                               <212> TYPE: PRT                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <223> OTHER INFORMATION: polypeptide motif                                     <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (2)...(2)                                                      <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Asp, Cys, Gly,          His, Met,                                                                            Pro, Trp or Val                                                          <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (3)...(3)                                                      #Gln, Phe, Ser, Thr, Ala ora is Leu, Glu, Met,                                       Pro                                                                      <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (4)...(4)                                                      <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Arg, Cys, Met,          Phe, Trp,                                                                            Tyr or Val                                                               <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (5)...(5)                                                      <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Asn, Cys, Gln,          Gly, Phe,                                                                            Ser, Thr or Trp                                                          <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (6)...(6)                                                      #Ala, Val, Asp, Lys, Ser, Tyris Arg, Glu, Asn,                                       or Met                                                                   <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (7)...(7)                                                      <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Asn, Cys, Gly,          His, Leu,                                                                            Met, Phe or Trp                                                          <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (8)...(8)                                                      <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is Gly or Glu                                     <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (9)...(9)                                                      #Val, Ser, Asp, Ile, Asn ora is Pro, Arg, Leu,                                       Thr                                                                      <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (11)...(11)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Ala, Cys, Glu,          His, Ile,                                                                            Pro, Trp and Val                                                         <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (12)...(12)                                                    #Asp, Gln, Phe, Gly, Glu, Thris Arg, Lys, Ala,                                       and Ser                                                                  <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (13)...(13)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Asp, Cys, Glu,          Pro, Thr                                                                             or Trp                                                                   <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (14)...(14)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Arg, Asn, Cys,          Gly, His,                                                                            Ser, Trp or Tyr                                                          <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (15)...(15)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Ala, Asp, Cys,          Gly, His,                                                                            Met, Trp or Tyr                                                          <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (16)...(16)                                                    #Val, Gln, Lys, Leu, Gly ora is Ser, Ala, Arg,                                       Ile                                                                      <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (17)...(17)                                                    #Trp or Leu INFORMATION: Xaa is Phe, Tyr, Ile,                                 <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (18)...(18)                                                    #Trp, Asn or AlaRMATION: Xaa is Tyr, His, Phe,                                 <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (19)...(19)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is Tyr or Phe                                     <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (20)...(20)                                                    #or AspTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is Lys, Asn, Ser                                  <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (21)...(21)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Asp, Cys, Glu, His      or Tyr                                                                         <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (22)...(22)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Cys, Met, Pro or        Trp                                                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (23)...(23)                                                    #Leu, Thr, Ile, Gln, Glu, Tyr or Val Lys, Ser,                                 <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (24)...(24)                                                    #His, Gly, Arg or MetON: Xaa is Lys, Gln, Asn,                                 <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (25)...(25)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Asn, Asp, Cys,          His, Ile, Pro,                                                                       Trp, Tyr or Val                                                          <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (27)...(27)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Cys, Gly, Phe,          Pro, Ser or Trp                                                                <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (28)...(28)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Asp, Cys, His,          Ile, Phe, Trp                                                                        or Tyr                                                                   <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (29)...(29)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is Phe or Tyr                                     <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (30)...(30)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Arg, Cys, Gly or        Met                                                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (31)...(31)                                                    #or AspTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is Tyr, Trp, Phe                                  <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (32)...(32)                                                    #Thr> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is Ser, Gly or                                    <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (33)...(33)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is Gly or Ile                                     <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (35)...(35)                                                    #Pro, Gln, Leu, Glu, Asn or Met Gly, Lys, Arg,                                 <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (36)...(36)                                                    #Ala> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is Gly, Lys or                                    <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (37)...(37)                                                    #Ser> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is Asn, Lys or                                    <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (38)...(38)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Cys, His, Ile,          Phe, Pro, Thr,                                                                       Trp, Tyr or Val                                                          <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (39)...(39)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is Asn or Tyr                                     <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (40)...(40)                                                    #Gln or Val INFORMATION: Xaa is Arg, Asn, Lys,                                 <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (41)...(41)                                                    #Asp> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is Phe, Tyr or                                    <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (42)...(42)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Cys, Gln, Gly, Phe      or Trp                                                                         <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (43)...(43)                                                    #Lys or Asp INFORMATION: Xaa is Thr, Ser, Arg,                                 <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (44)...(44)                                                    #Arg, Lys, Thr, Glu, Ala, Gln or Val Leu, Trp,                                 <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (45)...(45)                                                    #His, Met, Val, Gln, Lys, Arg or Pro Asp, Ala,                                 <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (46)...(46)                                                    #Asp, Ala or TyrRMATION: Xaa is Glu, Lys, Gln,                                 <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (48)...(48)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Ala, Cys, Gly,          Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr,                                                                  Trp or Tyr                                                               <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (49)...(49)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa is any residue exc - #ept Cys, Ile, Leu,          Met, Phe, Pro, Ser,                                                                  Tyr or Val                                                               <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT                                                        <222> LOCATION: (50)...(50)                                                    #Ile, Phe, Leu, Met, Lys, Tyr or Arg Ala, Val,                                 - <400> SEQUENCE: 5                                                            - Cys Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Cys Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa          #                15                                                            - Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Cys Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa          #            30                                                                - Xaa Cys Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Xaa Cys Xaa          #        45                                                                    - Xaa Xaa Cys                                                                      50                                                                         - <210> SEQ ID NO 6                                                            <211> LENGTH: 186                                                              <212> TYPE: DNA                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <223> OTHER INFORMATION: degenerate DNA                                        <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- feature                                            <222> LOCATION: (1)...(186)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: n = A,T,C or G                                        - <400> SEQUENCE: 6                                                            - gtngayggng cngargaycc nmgntgyytn gargcnytna arccnggnaa yt - #gyggngar          60                                                                           - taygtngtnm gntggtayta ygayaarcar gtnaaywsnt gygcnmgntt yt - #ggttywsn         120                                                                           - ggntgyaayg gnwsnggnaa ymgnttyaay wsngaraarg artgycarga ra - #cntgyath         180                                                                           #          186                                                                 - <210> SEQ ID NO 7                                                            <211> LENGTH: 186                                                              <212> TYPE: DNA                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Degenerate DNA                                        <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- feature                                            <222> LOCATION: (1)...(186)                                                    <223> OTHER INFORMATION: n = A,T,C or G                                        - <400> SEQUENCE: 7                                                            - gtngayggng cngargaycc nmgntgyytn gargcnytna arccnggnaa yt - #gyggngcn          60                                                                           - taygtngtnm gntggtayta ygayaarcar gtnaaywsnt gygcnmgntt yt - #ggttywsn         120                                                                           - ggntgyaayg gnwsnggnaa ymgnttyaay wsngaraarg artgycarga ra - #cntgyath         180                                                                           #          186                                                                 - <210> SEQ ID NO 8                                                            <211> LENGTH: 55                                                               <212> TYPE: PRT                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens                                                   - <400> SEQUENCE: 8                                                            - Thr Asp Ile Cys Lys Leu Pro Lys Asp Glu Gl - #y Thr Cys Arg Asp Phe          #                15                                                            - Ile Leu Lys Trp Tyr Tyr Asp Pro Asn Thr Ly - #s Ser Cys Ala Arg Phe          #            30                                                                - Trp Tyr Gly Gly Cys Gly Gly Asn Glu Asn Ly - #s Phe Gly Ser Gln Lys          #        45                                                                    - Glu Cys Glu Lys Val Cys Ala                                                  #    55                                                                        - <210> SEQ ID NO 9                                                            <211> LENGTH: 2383                                                             <212> TYPE: DNA                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens                                                   <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <221> NAME/KEY: CDS                                                            <222> LOCATION: (1)...(1674)                                                   <221> NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- feature                                            <222> LOCATION: (1)...(2383)                                                   <223> OTHER INFORMATION: n = A,T,C or G                                        - <400> SEQUENCE: 9                                                            - ggg ccc gaa gga cca aag ggt gaa ccg ggc at - #t atg ggc cct ttt gga            48                                                                           Gly Pro Glu Gly Pro Lys Gly Glu Pro Gly Il - #e Met Gly Pro Phe Gly            #                 15                                                           - atg cct gga aca tca att cct gga cca cct gg - #g cca aag gga gat aga            96                                                                           Met Pro Gly Thr Ser Ile Pro Gly Pro Pro Gl - #y Pro Lys Gly Asp Arg            #             30                                                               - gga gga cct ggg ata cct gga ttt aag gga ga - #a cct gga ctt tct att           144                                                                           Gly Gly Pro Gly Ile Pro Gly Phe Lys Gly Gl - #u Pro Gly Leu Ser Ile            #         45                                                                   - cga gga cca aag ggt gtc caa ggc cct cgg gg - #a cca gtg ggt gct cca           192                                                                           Arg Gly Pro Lys Gly Val Gln Gly Pro Arg Gl - #y Pro Val Gly Ala Pro            #     60                                                                       - gga ctc aaa ggt gat ggc tat cct ggt gtg cc - #t gga cct cgt gga tta           240                                                                           Gly Leu Lys Gly Asp Gly Tyr Pro Gly Val Pr - #o Gly Pro Arg Gly Leu            # 80                                                                           - cca gga ccc cct ggg ccg atg ggt tta cgt gg - #a gtg gga gac act gga           288                                                                           Pro Gly Pro Pro Gly Pro Met Gly Leu Arg Gl - #y Val Gly Asp Thr Gly            #                 95                                                           - gca aag gga gag cct ggg gtc aga ggc cct cc - #a ggt cct tct ggg cct           336                                                                           Ala Lys Gly Glu Pro Gly Val Arg Gly Pro Pr - #o Gly Pro Ser Gly Pro            #           110                                                                - cgg ggc gta gga acc caa ggg cca aag ggt ga - #t act ggg cag aaa ggc           384                                                                           Arg Gly Val Gly Thr Gln Gly Pro Lys Gly As - #p Thr Gly Gln Lys Gly            #       125                                                                    - ttg cct ggc cct cct ggc ccc cct ggc tat gg - #a tca cag gga att aaa           432                                                                           Leu Pro Gly Pro Pro Gly Pro Pro Gly Tyr Gl - #y Ser Gln Gly Ile Lys            #   140                                                                        - ggg gaa caa gga cca caa ggc ttc cca ggc cc - #a aag ggc aca atg ggc           480                                                                           Gly Glu Gln Gly Pro Gln Gly Phe Pro Gly Pr - #o Lys Gly Thr Met Gly            145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -        #60                                                                            - cat ggc ctc cca ggc cag aag gga gag cac gg - #a gaa cgg ggc gat gtg           528                                                                           His Gly Leu Pro Gly Gln Lys Gly Glu His Gl - #y Glu Arg Gly Asp Val            #               175                                                            - gga aag aaa ggt gat aaa gga gaa att gga ga - #g cct gga tct cca gga           576                                                                           Gly Lys Lys Gly Asp Lys Gly Glu Ile Gly Gl - #u Pro Gly Ser Pro Gly            #           190                                                                - aaa cag ggt tta caa gga ccc aaa gga gac ct - #a gga ctt aca aaa gaa           624                                                                           Lys Gln Gly Leu Gln Gly Pro Lys Gly Asp Le - #u Gly Leu Thr Lys Glu            #       205                                                                    - gaa att atc aaa ctt att aca gaa ata tgt gg - #t tgt ggg ccc aaa tgc           672                                                                           Glu Ile Ile Lys Leu Ile Thr Glu Ile Cys Gl - #y Cys Gly Pro Lys Cys            #   220                                                                        - aaa gag act cca cta gag ctg gtg ttt gtg at - #c gac agc tca gaa agc           720                                                                           Lys Glu Thr Pro Leu Glu Leu Val Phe Val Il - #e Asp Ser Ser Glu Ser            225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -        #40                                                                            - gtg ggg cca gag aac ttt cag atc att aaa aa - #t ttt gtg aag act atg           768                                                                           Val Gly Pro Glu Asn Phe Gln Ile Ile Lys As - #n Phe Val Lys Thr Met            #               255                                                            - gct gac cgg gtt gct ctg gac ctt gcc acg gc - #c cgc ata ggc ata atc           816                                                                           Ala Asp Arg Val Ala Leu Asp Leu Ala Thr Al - #a Arg Ile Gly Ile Ile            #           270                                                                - aac tat agc cat aag gtg gag aag gtg gct aa - #t ttg aag cag ttc tcc           864                                                                           Asn Tyr Ser His Lys Val Glu Lys Val Ala As - #n Leu Lys Gln Phe Ser            #       285                                                                    - agc aag gat gac ttc aag ttg gct gtt gac aa - #c atg caa tat ctg ggg           912                                                                           Ser Lys Asp Asp Phe Lys Leu Ala Val Asp As - #n Met Gln Tyr Leu Gly            #   300                                                                        - gaa ggc aca tac aca gcc act gct ctg caa gc - #a gcc aac gac atg ttt           960                                                                           Glu Gly Thr Tyr Thr Ala Thr Ala Leu Gln Al - #a Ala Asn Asp Met Phe            305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -        #20                                                                            - gaa gat gca agg cca ggt gta aaa aaa gtg gc - #c ttg gtc atc act gat          1008                                                                           Glu Asp Ala Arg Pro Gly Val Lys Lys Val Al - #a Leu Val Ile Thr Asp            #               335                                                            - gga cag aca gat tct cgt gat aaa gag aaa ct - #g aca gag gtg gtg aag          1056                                                                           Gly Gln Thr Asp Ser Arg Asp Lys Glu Lys Le - #u Thr Glu Val Val Lys            #           350                                                                - aat gcc agt gac acc aat gtg gag ata ttt gt - #g ata ggg gtg gtg aag          1104                                                                           Asn Ala Ser Asp Thr Asn Val Glu Ile Phe Va - #l Ile Gly Val Val Lys            #       365                                                                    - aaa aat gat ccc aac ttt gaa ata ttc cac aa - #a gaa atg aat cta att          1152                                                                           Lys Asn Asp Pro Asn Phe Glu Ile Phe His Ly - #s Glu Met Asn Leu Ile            #   380                                                                        - gct act gac cca gag cat gtt tac cag ttt ga - #t gat ttc ttt acc ctg          1200                                                                           Ala Thr Asp Pro Glu His Val Tyr Gln Phe As - #p Asp Phe Phe Thr Leu            385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -        #00                                                                            - caa gac acc ctg aag caa aaa ttg ttt caa aa - #a att tgt gag gat ttt          1248                                                                           Gln Asp Thr Leu Lys Gln Lys Leu Phe Gln Ly - #s Ile Cys Glu Asp Phe            #               415                                                            - gat tcc tat ctc gtt caa att ttt ggt tca tc - #g tca cct caa cct gga          1296                                                                           Asp Ser Tyr Leu Val Gln Ile Phe Gly Ser Se - #r Ser Pro Gln Pro Gly            #           430                                                                - ttt ggg atg tca ggg gaa gaa ctc agt gaa tc - #t act cca gag cct caa          1344                                                                           Phe Gly Met Ser Gly Glu Glu Leu Ser Glu Se - #r Thr Pro Glu Pro Gln            #       445                                                                    - aaa gaa att tct gag tca ttg agt gtc acc ag - #a gac cag gat gaa gat          1392                                                                           Lys Glu Ile Ser Glu Ser Leu Ser Val Thr Ar - #g Asp Gln Asp Glu Asp            #   460                                                                        - gat aag gct cca gag cca acg tgg gct gat ga - #t ctg cct gcc act acc          1440                                                                           Asp Lys Ala Pro Glu Pro Thr Trp Ala Asp As - #p Leu Pro Ala Thr Thr            465                 4 - #70                 4 - #75                 4 -        #80                                                                            - tca tct gag gcc acc acc acc ccc agg cca ct - #g ctc agc acc cct gtg          1488                                                                           Ser Ser Glu Ala Thr Thr Thr Pro Arg Pro Le - #u Leu Ser Thr Pro Val            #               495                                                            - gat ggg gca gag gat cct aga tgt ttg gaa gc - #c ttg aag cct gga aac          1536                                                                           Asp Gly Ala Glu Asp Pro Arg Cys Leu Glu Al - #a Leu Lys Pro Gly Asn            #           510                                                                - tgt ggt gaa tat gtg gtt cga tgg tat tat ga - #c aaa cag gtc aac tct          1584                                                                           Cys Gly Glu Tyr Val Val Arg Trp Tyr Tyr As - #p Lys Gln Val Asn Ser            #       525                                                                    - tgt gcc cga ttt tgg ttc agt ggc tgt aat gg - #c tca gga aat aga ttc          1632                                                                           Cys Ala Arg Phe Trp Phe Ser Gly Cys Asn Gl - #y Ser Gly Asn Arg Phe            #   540                                                                        - aac agt gaa aag gaa tgt caa gaa acc tgc at - #t caa gga tga gcaagta           1681                                                                          Asn Ser Glu Lys Glu Cys Gln Glu Thr Cys Il - #e Gln Gly                        545                 5 - #50                 5 - #55                            - aattggcctg tctctatcaa aagcatagaa ctccctaatt tccacatatt ca - #cccaatac        1741                                                                           - aaatacagca ctatatttga gtgtatactg agtatttaca acttatacat gt - #aattgaat        1801                                                                           - tctcactaca gccctaggat gtacatatta ttaaccactt atataggtaa ga - #aagctgag        1861                                                                           - gctctgagaa gtttagtaac ttgtcaactg tcacccaact aaaaagtttc ag - #agctgagg        1921                                                                           - atttagactt agagctgtgt aacttcaata cacagactct atctacttca ca - #acctgcaa        1981                                                                           - tgtgattctg attcctttaa ttcctgttgt atgtactatg tcagctcaaa cc - #cctacccc        2041                                                                           - tgtccctgcc catacctcca cccactcacc tccctaacct ccttatgtcc ct - #cacagtag        2101                                                                           - caagatgtag gtgataggaa ggacttcggt gtgagaatta gaaatgatgt aa - #atgtttac        2161                                                                           - gcaggagtgc tgggatagga gtcgggatgg tgagggtagt tagatttttg cc - #tcacttgc        2221                                                                           - cctgaaagtg gtaataggga gaaaccaatn tgaattacaa ttacttaaat gt - #atcacaga        2281                                                                           - ctgtcacttt gtattcctcc aacatgtttg gtaacaagtg cttaatgtat gt - #taaaataa        2341                                                                           #2383              cttc cattaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aa                               - <210> SEQ ID NO 10                                                           <211> LENGTH: 557                                                              <212> TYPE: PRT                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Homo sapiens                                                   - <400> SEQUENCE: 10                                                           - Gly Pro Glu Gly Pro Lys Gly Glu Pro Gly Il - #e Met Gly Pro Phe Gly          #                15                                                            - Met Pro Gly Thr Ser Ile Pro Gly Pro Pro Gl - #y Pro Lys Gly Asp Arg          #            30                                                                - Gly Gly Pro Gly Ile Pro Gly Phe Lys Gly Gl - #u Pro Gly Leu Ser Ile          #        45                                                                    - Arg Gly Pro Lys Gly Val Gln Gly Pro Arg Gl - #y Pro Val Gly Ala Pro          #    60                                                                        - Gly Leu Lys Gly Asp Gly Tyr Pro Gly Val Pr - #o Gly Pro Arg Gly Leu          #80                                                                            - Pro Gly Pro Pro Gly Pro Met Gly Leu Arg Gl - #y Val Gly Asp Thr Gly          #                95                                                            - Ala Lys Gly Glu Pro Gly Val Arg Gly Pro Pr - #o Gly Pro Ser Gly Pro          #           110                                                                - Arg Gly Val Gly Thr Gln Gly Pro Lys Gly As - #p Thr Gly Gln Lys Gly          #       125                                                                    - Leu Pro Gly Pro Pro Gly Pro Pro Gly Tyr Gl - #y Ser Gln Gly Ile Lys          #   140                                                                        - Gly Glu Gln Gly Pro Gln Gly Phe Pro Gly Pr - #o Lys Gly Thr Met Gly          145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -        #60                                                                            - His Gly Leu Pro Gly Gln Lys Gly Glu His Gl - #y Glu Arg Gly Asp Val          #               175                                                            - Gly Lys Lys Gly Asp Lys Gly Glu Ile Gly Gl - #u Pro Gly Ser Pro Gly          #           190                                                                - Lys Gln Gly Leu Gln Gly Pro Lys Gly Asp Le - #u Gly Leu Thr Lys Glu          #       205                                                                    - Glu Ile Ile Lys Leu Ile Thr Glu Ile Cys Gl - #y Cys Gly Pro Lys Cys          #   220                                                                        - Lys Glu Thr Pro Leu Glu Leu Val Phe Val Il - #e Asp Ser Ser Glu Ser          225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -        #40                                                                            - Val Gly Pro Glu Asn Phe Gln Ile Ile Lys As - #n Phe Val Lys Thr Met          #               255                                                            - Ala Asp Arg Val Ala Leu Asp Leu Ala Thr Al - #a Arg Ile Gly Ile Ile          #           270                                                                - Asn Tyr Ser His Lys Val Glu Lys Val Ala As - #n Leu Lys Gln Phe Ser          #       285                                                                    - Ser Lys Asp Asp Phe Lys Leu Ala Val Asp As - #n Met Gln Tyr Leu Gly          #   300                                                                        - Glu Gly Thr Tyr Thr Ala Thr Ala Leu Gln Al - #a Ala Asn Asp Met Phe          305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -        #20                                                                            - Glu Asp Ala Arg Pro Gly Val Lys Lys Val Al - #a Leu Val Ile Thr Asp          #               335                                                            - Gly Gln Thr Asp Ser Arg Asp Lys Glu Lys Le - #u Thr Glu Val Val Lys          #           350                                                                - Asn Ala Ser Asp Thr Asn Val Glu Ile Phe Va - #l Ile Gly Val Val Lys          #       365                                                                    - Lys Asn Asp Pro Asn Phe Glu Ile Phe His Ly - #s Glu Met Asn Leu Ile          #   380                                                                        - Ala Thr Asp Pro Glu His Val Tyr Gln Phe As - #p Asp Phe Phe Thr Leu          385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -        #00                                                                            - Gln Asp Thr Leu Lys Gln Lys Leu Phe Gln Ly - #s Ile Cys Glu Asp Phe          #               415                                                            - Asp Ser Tyr Leu Val Gln Ile Phe Gly Ser Se - #r Ser Pro Gln Pro Gly          #           430                                                                - Phe Gly Met Ser Gly Glu Glu Leu Ser Glu Se - #r Thr Pro Glu Pro Gln          #       445                                                                    - Lys Glu Ile Ser Glu Ser Leu Ser Val Thr Ar - #g Asp Gln Asp Glu Asp          #   460                                                                        - Asp Lys Ala Pro Glu Pro Thr Trp Ala Asp As - #p Leu Pro Ala Thr Thr          465                 4 - #70                 4 - #75                 4 -        #80                                                                            - Ser Ser Glu Ala Thr Thr Thr Pro Arg Pro Le - #u Leu Ser Thr Pro Val          #               495                                                            - Asp Gly Ala Glu Asp Pro Arg Cys Leu Glu Al - #a Leu Lys Pro Gly Asn          #           510                                                                - Cys Gly Glu Tyr Val Val Arg Trp Tyr Tyr As - #p Lys Gln Val Asn Ser          #       525                                                                    - Cys Ala Arg Phe Trp Phe Ser Gly Cys Asn Gl - #y Ser Gly Asn Arg Phe          #   540                                                                        - Asn Ser Glu Lys Glu Cys Gln Glu Thr Cys Il - #e Gln Gly                      545                 5 - #50                 5 - #55                            - <210> SEQ ID NO 11                                                           <211> LENGTH: 4                                                                <212> TYPE: PRT                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <223> OTHER INFORMATION: thrombin cleavage site                                - <400> SEQUENCE: 11                                                           - Leu Val Pro Arg                                                               1                                                                             - <210> SEQ ID NO 12                                                           <211> LENGTH: 27                                                               <212> TYPE: DNA                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <223> OTHER INFORMATION: oligonucleotide primer ZC973 - #9                     - <400> SEQUENCE: 12                                                           #             27   cact atagggc                                                - <210> SEQ ID NO 13                                                           <211> LENGTH: 22                                                               <212> TYPE: DNA                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <223> OTHER INFORMATION: oligonucleotide primer ZC15, - #999                   - <400> SEQUENCE: 13                                                           #                 22aac cc                                                     - <210> SEQ ID NO 14                                                           <211> LENGTH: 23                                                               <212> TYPE: DNA                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <223> OTHER INFORMATION: oligonucleotide primer ZC971 - #9                     - <400> SEQUENCE: 14                                                           #                23gagc ggc                                                    - <210> SEQ ID NO 15                                                           <211> LENGTH: 25                                                               <212> TYPE: DNA                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <223> OTHER INFORMATION: oligonucleotide primer ZC15, - #998                   - <400> SEQUENCE: 15                                                           #               25 gtct tcaca                                                  - <210> SEQ ID NO 16                                                           <211> LENGTH: 32                                                               <212> TYPE: DNA                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <223> OTHER INFORMATION: oligonucleotide primer ZC17, - #238                   - <400> SEQUENCE: 16                                                           #          32      ggca gaggacccta ga                                          - <210> SEQ ID NO 17                                                           <211> LENGTH: 32                                                               <212> TYPE: DNA                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <223> OTHER INFORMATION: oligonucleotide primer ZC17, - #240                   - <400> SEQUENCE: 17                                                           #          32      gaat gcaggtttct tg                                          - <210> SEQ ID NO 18                                                           <211> LENGTH: 6                                                                <212> TYPE: PRT                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <223> OTHER INFORMATION: peptide tag                                           - <400> SEQUENCE: 18                                                           - Glu Tyr Met Pro Met Glu                                                       1               5                                                             - <210> SEQ ID NO 19                                                           <211> LENGTH: 20                                                               <212> TYPE: DNA                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <223> OTHER INFORMATION: oligonucleotide primer ZC16, - #523                   - <400> SEQUENCE: 19                                                           # 20               aact                                                        - <210> SEQ ID NO 20                                                           <211> LENGTH: 21                                                               <212> TYPE: DNA                                                                <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence                                            <220> FEATURE:                                                                 <223> OTHER INFORMATION: oligonucleotide primer ZC16, - #522                   - <400> SEQUENCE: 20                                                           #21                tttg a                                                      __________________________________________________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. An isolated protein comprising a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO:5, wherein said sequence is at least 90% identical to residues 9 through 59 of SEQ ID NO:2 and wherein said protein has proteinase inhibiting activity.
 2. The isolated protein of claim 1 wherein said protein is from 51 to 81 amino acid residues in length.
 3. The isolated protein of claim 1 wherein said protein is from 51 to 67 residues in length.
 4. The isolated protein of claim 1 wherein said sequence is selected from the group consisting of:(a) residues 9 through 59 of SEQ ID N.:2; and (b) residues 9 through 59 of SEQ ID NO:4.
 5. The isolated protein of claim 4 wherein said protein is from 51 to 67 residues in length.
 6. The isolated protein of claim 1 consisting of from 51-557 contiguous amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO:10.
 7. The isolated protein of claim 1 further comprising an affinity tag.
 8. The isolated protein of claim 7 wherein said affinity tag is maltose binding protein, polyhistidine, or Glu-Tyr-Met-Pro-Met-Glu (SEQ ID NO:18). 